As said the motivation comes from within, but the states
needs to cultivate national identity factors to provide
direction and resources for training. Sport training start
from Young.If parents does not have the economics means to support
a capable young man than it is the states to move in and provide
support to grow the sport
If after 40 yrs we find that society does not have that
motivation than the state fail in establishing national
identity in molding national character.
.
Is Singapore government doing enough for sports? Which
sports? golf, tennis, bowling, track and fields, or soccer? I
don't think Singapore should put money into developing talents for
all sports. But I think enough is done for some sports, like
soccer, swimming and table tennis. What else we need to
do?
Motivation for sports begins at home. But kids are very much
influenced by their parents. If parents are both music teachers,
you are not likely to find the kids having interest in rugby.
Motivation also comes from schools. but some schools have their
tradition. table tennis, in particular is a sport of the
old Chinese schools, like Catholic High, Nanyang. You find it
a tradition for RI, ACS and St. Andrew to fight it out in
rugby. You don't find any students who study in RI, ACS or St.
Andrew from Pr. 1 to JC and can excel in table tennis. I do
know that if you play table tennis well and apply for RJC, you will
be accepted even if you academic score is below the normal entry
mark. Foreign talent?
Soccer is the only sport that is enjoyed nation wide, but what
have we achieved?
But what is most important, the mentality of parents. do you
want to send your kids to a special school (not in a ulu area, for
there is none in Singapore) just to focus on a sport? I haven't
seen any true blue singaporean parents who have that kind of
passion, tell me I am wrong. It is not money. I see young kids,
more and more, carrying their golf bags, go under private coach,
special program. are there Tiger Woods want to be? No, but
golf is a game good for business, for social, a game and a sport,
good for the future in business. Also tennis, tennis rackets,
renting of tennis court costs a lot, but many well to do families
send their kids for special lessons. Are they Nadel or federer want
to be? No, no, sportsman in Singapore tan bu jia.
Want to establish national identity? first you decide who are
your fellow true blue Singaporeans. Only the born in Singapore, the
bumi? then you have to find who among those who hold Singapore
passports are local born, how many MPs, civil servants, who
are born overseas, give them the pink IC and reserve the red
IC for the local born. Foreign born become citizens by
the constitution of the Republic of Singapore. If you don't
identify with them, they don't have to identify with you. What
national identity you want?
National character, I would be very glad to want to know what is
the true blue Singaporean character, care to share?