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Asian Game Special: It’s not all about winning

Updated: 2010-03-12 10:46

Singapore athletes are training hard to achieve results at the Asian Games, said Chin Siat Yoon, Singapore Ambassador to China.

He is confident that Singapore athletes will do their best. “We are a small country so my hopes are modest. Nevertheless, our sportsmen and sportswomen will do their utmost in Guangzhou,” he said.

“The spirit of sports is not so much about winning as about trying, about pushing one’s mental and physical limits. But if our athletes manage to put Singapore in a small but prominent spot in the medals tally, I will be delighted.”

At the last Asian Games in Doha, Singapore proved its winning capability bringing home a total of 27 medals, eight of which were gold.

Last year the country hosted the inaugural Asian Youth Games, where Singaporean athletes won nine gold medals and 30 in total.

The Ambassador observed that as the host city, Guangzhou has spared no effort in its preparation for the Games. “The preparatory work ranges from sustained publicity to building world-class facilities,” he said.

“Like all member countries, we in Singapore look forward to November when we meet in the beautiful, newly transformed Guangzhou.”

Recalling the success of the Beijing Olympics the Ambassador said: “What impressed me most was the great enthusiasm of the Chinese people in welcoming their foreign guests. The thousands of volunteers, in particular, took great pains and very often went out of their way to make the visitors feel welcome.”

“I expect no less from Guangzhou. China has set a new benchmark in the organization of such games. The organizers of the next Asian Games in Inchon, Korea, will have their work cut out for them,” he said.

“I have no doubt that the 16th Asian Games will be a great success.”

He believes the theme of the Games, ‘Thrilling Games, Harmonious Asia’, is very appropriate. The games will be thrilling because each athlete will be doing his or her very best not only to beat their competitors, but also to better their personal records. “Thrilling games are an uplifting and inspiring experience for spectators and participants alike. But more important is the spirit of friendship and sportsmanship,” he added.

The motto encapsulates the Chinese traditional philosophy of the unity of opposites, ying and yang. It encourages tough and fierce competition on the one hand, and the spirit of harmony on the other.

The Games provide a platform not only for participants but also spectators to interact, learn and understand more about each other. With this understanding comes exchanges and friendship whether it is between ASEAN and China, or among ASEAN countries, he said.

Singapore and Guangdong enjoy close ties, partly because a lot of people who now live in Singapore originally came from the province. Guangzhou therefore holds an attraction for many Singaporeans, said the ambassador.

“I believe that a significant number of Singaporeans would be very interested to travel to Guangzhou not only to attend the Asian Games but also to take the opportunity to visit Guangdong province.”

Later this year Singapore will be hosting a major sporting event itself. The First Youth Olympics will be held there in August. The ambassador said that he wants to learn from China’s experience at organizing big sporting events.

“We would very much like to tap China’s experience in this area. Needless to say, we wholeheartedly welcome our Chinese friends to come to our shores to attend the inaugural Youth Olympics and to visit our country.”