We don't have athletes who are willing to make sacrifices: Tan Howe Liang

[ac323]

Tan Howe Liang is Singapore's first Olympic medallist, having won a silver in weightlifting at the 1960 Rome Olympics.

Paddler Feng Tianwei, who won the Olympic bronze medal in the women's individual event on Wednesday, now joins Mr Tan as Singapore's second singles Olympic medal winner.

Speaking to Channel NewsAsia on Friday, the 79-year-old Mr Tan commented the bronze medal win.

"Sports in Singapore has improved tremendously, but we still can't catch up with some other countries because we don't have athletes who are willing to sacrifice," Mr Tan said.

"That's the most important thing a sportsman must have -- the spirit of sacrifice."

Now, Mr Tan has a new role, that of an ambassador for active ageing.

He joined over 80 active agers in a mass exercise at City Square Mall. The event was part of NTUC FairPrice's new "Celebrating Active Seniors" programme.

 

[S2k]

Re: We don't have athletes who are willing to make sacrifices: Tan Howe Liang

i'm proud of him only!

 

[wt_know]

Re: We don't have athletes who are willing to make sacrifices: Tan Howe Liang

i somewhat agree with mr tan view ... actually it's more toward the parent
parent will spent thousand to send kid for enrichment class and tuition but not sport hoping their child will become scholar subsequently policitian, doctor, lawyer, financial expert, etc - huge investment on the child for asset enhancement

athlete? mai .....

 

[Baby1M]

Re: We don't have athletes who are willing to make sacrifices: Tan Howe Liang

Even if I have talent, I m not sure if I would sacrifice to be groomed. IMHO, reason is simply: With SG high cost of living & competitive employment market, its Money talk, the honorable Sacrifice can take a backseat.
Consider this - If I ultimately fail to be world class or get injured and forced to leave e sport.... Will I be able to enter the employment market competing with foreign influx? Will I have enough to support my aged parents and their medical bills? Think I would rather be Kiasi and filial, instead of sacrificing with a possibility of failing to give my parents a comfortable golden years.

 

[ktnpl]

Re: We don't have athletes who are willing to make sacrifices: Tan Howe Liang

Winning an Olmpic medal does not benefit us if we do not get our butts off the couch to exercise. Instead of spending millions grooming a handful of elite athletes for glory, why not spend the money to develop more and better sports and recreational facilities to benefit the masses? There is an over emphasis on winning medals which is superficial. But one aspect Olympics does better than FIFA is that Olympics is less commercialised.

 

[rt333]

Re: We don't have athletes who are willing to make sacrifices: Tan Howe Liang

That's the thing but dunno y Singaporean just like to complain here complain there but UNWILLING to do it!! Just full of complain and jealously..At least Singapore appear on the medal tally table, that's the bottom line.

 

[rt333]

Re: We don't have athletes who are willing to make sacrifices: Tan Howe Liang

Let's put it simple. Singaporeans are full of complain and jealous yet they do not want to sacrifices. Weird...btw I myself also Singaporean, born and bred here.

 

[sszone]

Re: We don't have athletes who are willing to make sacrifices: Tan Howe Liang

i remember ministers also talking abt the sacrifices they have while defending their pay many months back.

ya sacrifice....perhaps some ppl never read abt China's ex-national athletes performing on the streets for a living after they are no longer of use to the state.
thats sacrifice.....sacrifice the athelete and then let em go begging.

its real sad to see em in this state after all their sacrifices

http://www.chinasmack.com/2011/stories/former-chinese-gymnastics-champion-now-homeless-beggar.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEDvmCGRRow

 

[wt_know]

Re: We don't have athletes who are willing to make sacrifices: Tan Howe Liang

but athlete can earn smelly smelly few hundreds thousands (ie: remy ong the bowler) not even winning olympic or world medal

if olympic or men/woman sportsman on the year ... reward money + sponsorship = jiak beh liao wor but not easy la ...
the percentage of success is make it or break it compare to excel in study and climb corporate ladder ... huge safety net and lots of other opportunity

Even if I have talent, I m not sure if I would sacrifice to be groomed. IMHO, reason is simply: With SG high cost of living & competitive employment market, its Money talk, the honorable Sacrifice can take a backseat.
Consider this - If I ultimately fail to be world class or get injured and forced to leave e sport.... Will I be able to enter the employment market competing with foreign influx? Will I have enough to support my aged parents and their medical bills? Think I would rather be Kiasi and filial, instead of sacrificing with a possibility of failing to give my parents a comfortable golden years.

 

[sszone]

Re: We don't have athletes who are willing to make sacrifices: Tan Howe Liang

they have to be real.....even our own local soccer players can't make a decent living.
some try to play the indo league but end up so called dio marked by FAS.
what the hell is wrong, they are just decent ppl trying to make a living using their soccer skills, they have families and themselves to feed too.

moral of the story.....u ask ppl sacrifice, but are u gonna look after them?

 

[sszone]

Re: We don't have athletes who are willing to make sacrifices: Tan Howe Liang

they have to be realistic.....even our own local soccer players can't make a decent living.
some try to play the indo league but end up so called dio marked by FAS.
what the hell is wrong, they are just decent ppl trying to make a living using their soccer skills, they have families and themselves to feed too.

moral of the story.....u ask ppl sacrifice, but are u gonna look after them?

 

[iScoupe]

Re: We don't have athletes who are willing to make sacrifices: Tan Howe Liang

Give me $20,000 a month, everyday just train guard goal post, I will be Asia best goalkeeper.

 

[sszone]

Re: We don't have athletes who are willing to make sacrifices: Tan Howe Liang

Give me $20,000 a month, everyday just train guard goal post, I will be Asia best goalkeeper.

no lah, cannot ask u to sacrifice your many ks income/month as top AIA agent.
economics teach one.....the opportunity cost is too high.
i say we go give more citizenships to brazilians......yay World Cup here we come!!!

 

[Baby1M]

Re: We don't have athletes who are willing to make sacrifices: Tan Howe Liang

but athlete can earn smelly smelly few hundreds thousands (ie: remy ong the bowler) not even winning olympic or world medal

if olympic or men/woman sportsman on the year ... reward money + sponsorship = jiak beh liao wor but not easy la ...
the percentage of success is make it or break it compare to excel in study and climb corporate ladder ... huge safety net and lots of other opportunity

Did u check Remy's background? Maybe u should then let me know.

I don't believe in quoting unique/minority cases, we got to look at the majority. Did u not know we have World Class legit bodybuilders in a few weight categories? Have u not hear how much they sacrificed and nothing from the garment? The garment could have supported such local potentials but NIL till date.
Yes, we also have unique cases in BB too where he owns a gym facility, he who won the World series as Senior BB of e World. But I don't use him as an example to say, how much as a Sportman he makes bcos he sacrificed. I look at e majority.

Thus if I m talented and given SG's focus, I will still rather be KAISI. But if I m in a country that value and care for e sportman after their 'fruitful' use, then yes, I would sacrifice.

Cents worth.

 

[Dinosaur hunter]

Re: We don't have athletes who are willing to make sacrifices: Tan Howe Liang

Before we even talk about asking athletes to make sacrifices, can our gahmen make sacrifices like taking a lower pay package?

 

[MW]

Re: We don't have athletes who are willing to make sacrifices: Tan Howe Liang

Olympics should have a KKJ Talk event. Iscoupe will get our nation's' first Gold medal

 

[Dinosaur hunter]

Re: We don't have athletes who are willing to make sacrifices: Tan Howe Liang

Olympics should have a KKJ Talk event. Iscoupe will get our nation's' first Gold medal

That would make him our national lj ....oops I mean kkj hero.

 

[Red_Bean_Bun]

Re: We don't have athletes who are willing to make sacrifices: Tan Howe Liang

Before we even talk about asking athletes to make sacrifices, can our gahmen make sacrifices like taking a lower pay package?

They can make more money than being in the government in the first place.......

 

[Red_Bean_Bun]

Re: We don't have athletes who are willing to make sacrifices: Tan Howe Liang

Singaporeans are not good at sports. The industry here is tiny. I have never seen any Nike or Addidas sponsorship (10-20m) for a soccer player, table tennis player or a bowler from Singapore.

Don't waste the tax payers money. We might actually do better in chess with the kids these days ..... the ground is more level there.

 

[MRacer77]

Re: We don't have athletes who are willing to make sacrifices: Tan Howe Liang

Actually, if complaining was considered an Olympic sport... Singapore will sweep the medals for sure...