One of the Vice Presidents of the
International Olympic Committee (IOC) Mr Thomas Bach has raised
alarm bells on the spiraling costs of the inaugural Youth Olympic
Games (YOG) in Singapore which has exceeded more than three times
its initial budget to a shocking $387 million dollars.
“The financial requirements of the games should not
limit future host candidates “to the same relatively small,
exclusive circle of (developed) countries capable of holding
Olympic Games,” Thomas Bach said. (read article here)
There were some concerns that the sky-rocketing costs of hosting
the YOG may deter developing countries from bidding for future
games.
In contrast, the twelfth Island Games – a biennial mini-Olympics
for island communities to be staged in the Swedish-speaking island
of Aland for roughly the same number of athletes last year cost
only S$4 million dollars.
“A country which is able to organize Olympic Games
should therefore not be considered as a host for Youth Olympic
Games,” he added.
Mr Bach is the second IOC Vice President to express his doubts
about the YOG. Another Vice President Mr Richard Pound boycotted
the event completely.
“It would be hypocritical to spend even more of the
IOC’s money to come to something in which I do not
believe”, says Pound. Instead of going to Singapore he
went on vacation. (read article
here)
Mr Pound also doubted that the YOG will be a hit among the
youth, contrary to what IOC President Jacques Rogge had
proclaimed.
“Will the Youth Olympic Games get one more — what we
call ‘a couch potato’ in America — into the swimming pool or on the
track?” said Dick Pound. All the people involved are minors. They
are still doing sports,” he quipped sarcastically.
Despite the exorbitant costs of hosting the YOG, Singapore
Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Dr Vivian
Balakrishnan said he would still bid for the YOG at the present
cost.
“I think this is not a trifling amount. But it is an
amount that will give us value for money in terms of positioning
ourselves, in terms of marketing ourselves, in terms of making sure
we are on everyone’s radar screen the next time they make an
investment decision,” he said during an interview with BBC
News.
[Source: BBC
News]
The beleaguered Dr Vivian has come under fire of late from
Singaporeans for bursting the YOG budget and a litany of comical
screw-ups tarnishing Singapore’s reputation in the world.
An online citizen set up by a school teacher to demand a public
apology from Dr Vivian has garnered more than 300 signatures in one
day alone.
[Please sign the petition demanding a public apology
from Dr Vivian Balakrishnan for mismanaging the YOG
here.]
shock???!!! not at all, perhaps these VP or whatsoever holding
offices in the olympic committees do not understand that Singapore
has a 7% Gst, ERP, high COE and many more high costs of living.
What is 380++ millions when our we can afford to loose billions in
our soverignity wealth leading to high cost of collection
from its citizens and today, they claim to
have gained 10 billions by MAS, but nothing in return for its
citizens.
So, dun worry, Singapore can even host the Olympic if they get a
chance, afterall, unlike other countries, our cost can be
recover easily
If developing countries cannot afford, dun host.
