LIVING in China, I have been following the recent debate
surrounding the victorious women paddlers' country of origin. It
seems we, Singaporeans, have forgotten, within just four decades,
that our forefathers were immigrants too.
Our great grandfathers came from China, India and Malaya to
build this country. No one questioned their countries of origin.
Many of our first-generation leaders, including the highly
respected Dr Goh Keng Swee, were not born in Singapore. Did we ever
question their loyalty or what they had done for Singapore?
If our national football team were made up of David Beckham,
Michael Owen and Kaka and if we had won the World Cup, would we be
as critical of their countries of origin? I suspect not. We seem to
have dealt harshly with the paddlers because they are of Chinese
origin.
It is indeed true that many of our national sportsmen and
sportswomen are foreign imports. And, yes, we could probably do a
lot more to support the development of local sports talent. But,
let's take an objective and pragmatic view of this.
Are our local sportsmen and sportswomen willing to sacrifice the
time to achieve the results? Take a look at our national football
team. Talent is not lacking, but discipline is. Don't we feel
embarrassed when we hear of our national team losing to a weaker
opponent because some players were out partying the night before
and had overslept? What has happened to the vision for Singapore to
qualify for the 2010 World Cup Finals?
It is not the lack of financial resources that is inhibiting our
sports development. It is the lack of leadership in the major
sports associations. The football association cannot get its act
together. The athletics association is constantly involved in
internal squabbles.
A sporting career is short-lived. Most professional sportspeople
have to retire by the age of 30. Is there a second career for them
here? Would Singaporean sportspeople be willing to live with the
uncertainty of having to retire by 30 without a job?
Foreign talent are paid to do something which few Singaporeans
want to do. We pay them to deliver the gold. Once their time is up,
they have to take care of themselves.
Until the local sports associations can get their act together
and our local sportspeople are disciplined enough to put in 110 per
cent effort, relying on foreign imports to win medals for us may be
the best way to put Singapore on the world sporting map.
Patrick Tan
Shenzhen, China
