TR EMERITUS

Dogged by controversies from the very first day, the inaugural Singapore Youth Olympic Games (YOG) got off to the worse possible start after a mass food poisoning outbreak erupted at a YOG venue. The rumors started circulating in cyberspace yesterday evening and was first reported by the Temasek Review this morning before Yahoo News picked up the story 8 hours later. (read article here) [Get instant updates and discussions about the YOG on our Facebook page here] According to Yahoo News, 26 Singapore YOG volunteers on duty at the triathlon competition at East Coast Park, suffered from diarrhoea after consuming their meals in the morning of August 15. The food caterer, whose identity remains a mystery, has since been suspended and its license may be revoked by the authorities. Both NEA and MOH were notified of food poisoning outbreak and are currently investigating the case. When contacted by Yahoo News, the Singapore YOG Organizing Committee (SYOGOC) said there are still "investigating" the case and will release an official statement in due course. This is the second food controversy to have hit the YOG. Last week, a massive outcry erupted among Singaporeans after we published an article on the substandard food given to Singapore volunteers in stark contrast to work was given to the foreign YOG athletes and officials: The netizen who emailed us the photo claimed that she was given the same food for the past five days for providing 10 continuous hours of “free labor” for YOG daily under the hot sun: “This is what I am eating everyday. Even my dog is fed better food!” she wrote. Singapore Food Industries (SFI), a subsidiary of the Singapore Airport Terminal Services (Sats) had been awarded a $5.5 million catering services contract by the YOG organising committee. Its contract covers meals for up to 7,000 athletes, officials and volunteers at the Youth Olympic Village. While “DOG” food is being served to Singapore volunteers, foreign athletes and officials were given three daily buffet meals befitting of a king by SFI: [Source: Yahoo Fit to Post] The massive public backlash forced SYOGOC to change the caterer which has promised to improve the standard of food for the volunteers. It appears that instead of "DOG" food, Singapore YOG volunteers are now being fed "poisoned" food. It is completely unacceptable for such a mass food poisoning outbreak to occur during a so-called "premier" sporting event in a purportedly first world country like Singapore which is almost unheard of in the world. This is probably the first time that volunteers at an international sporting event suffer from diarrhoea after being given unclean food by the organizers. Singapore parents whose children are currently volunteering for the YOG should pull them out of it till SYOGOC can guarantee that they will not be served unhygienic food which is poorly cooked and prepared again. For all the intangible benefits that YOG may bring, this fracas has damaged Singapore's international image beyond repair. An independent commission of inquiry should be set up to investigate the case. Dr Ng Ser Miang, the Chairman of SYOGOC must step down to take responsibility for this debacle and the numerous other screw-ups which have afflicted the YOG so far. In the meanwhile, there are no news reports on this most embarrassing saga by the Singapore media so far which has lost all credibility in its rather lop-sided, unprofessional and shameful coverage of the YOG to engineer fake support for a non-event ignored and shunned by the majority of Singaporeans, as evidenced by an online poll conducted by Channel News Asia in which 88 percent of some 6,400 Singaporeans said that they are "not interested in the YOG at all." The Temasek Review, which has been bringing Singaporeans instantaneous, updated and UNCENSORED news about the YOG around the clock often hours before other news websites, has seen its readership jump by forty percent in this week alone, bringing its present readership to almost half that of Singapore's national English paper The Straits Times. We have also been receiving a deluge of letters from Singapore volunteers on their unpleasant experiences with the YOG including being forced to volunteer or attend the YOG events under the threat of losing their testimonials at the end of the year, being treated like slaves working under inhumane conditions with little rest for hours at stretch and spending on their own transport and food with little or no renumeration from the organizers. To hear the REAL voices of Singaporeans on the ground, please stay tuned to this site which will be updated 24 hours as and when the news arrive. EDITORS’ NOTE: Foreign journalists, please stay tuned on our site and Facebook for the latest updates on the ground about the YOG. You can never get any authentic or accurate news from the Singapore media which is ranked a pathetic 133th in terms of press freedom by international media watchdog Reporters without Borders last year. All the papers in Singapore are owned by a single media company – Singapore Press Holdings whose Chairman is a former PAP minister Dr Tony Tan.  Read More →

In a sign that the PAP regime is getting increasingly desperate to drum up flagging support for its inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG), not only are Singapore students being FORCED to watch the games, they are slapped with a $5 refundable deposit to ensure that they turn up for the games. Students from Kuo Chuan Presbysterian Primary School were COERCED to watch the YOG Preliminary swimming competition at the Singapore Sports School on 19 August 2010. [Get instant updates and discussions about the YOG on our Facebook page here] To ensure that they actually turn up for the event, the school even COMPELLED them to pay $5 deposit upfront which will be returned they turned up on the actual day and confiscated if they do not do so: The high-handed and arbitrary manner in which Singapore schools are forcing their students to support the YOG is peeving many Singaporeans off and degrading the Olympian values of "excellence, respect and friendship" as well. While secondary, junior college and polytechnic students are forced to volunteer for YOG under long hours and being fed DOG food, primary school students are taught how to "cheer" at the games. According to one netizen, the students were actually divided into groups and instructed to cheer for different countries to "spice up" the event. The inaugural YOG is becoming a farce with such massive astroturfing engineered by the state to generate fake grassroots support for it. The International Olympic Committee and the international media should look into this matter and take the PAP regime to task for damaging the good name of the Olympic Games after all the money spent.     EDITORS’ NOTE: Foreign journalists, please stay tuned on our site and Facebook for the latest updates on the ground about the YOG. You can never get any authentic or accurate news from the Singapore media which is ranked a pathetic 133th in terms of press freedom by international media watchdog Reporters without Borders last year. All the papers in Singapore are owned by a single media company – Singapore Press Holdings whose Chairman is a former PAP minister Dr Tony Tan. It has little credibility among Singaporeans who are flocking to obtain uncensored news on the internet.   Related articles: >> Kuo Chuan Primary School students forced to pay $5 to watch YOG games >> Mass food poisoning outbreak at YOG venue yesterday? >> YOG! What YOG? >> Canvas roof at YOG fell apart >> Zaqy Mohd defends MCYS >> Singapore volunteers forced to work long hours without rest for YOG >> PM Lee caught napping at YOG opening ceremony? >> Disaster at YOG opening ceremony >> 8 reasons why I am disappointed with YOG opening ceremony >> Netizens lampooned YOG opening ceremony >> No news of YOG opening ceremony in rest of the world >> MOE teacher: How students can stay out of YOG >> YOG Webcast server crashed >> SFI promises to improve “DOG” food for volunteers >> Primary school students stand in the rain to welcome YOG torch >> Plight of Singapore volunteers at Youth Olympic Village >> JC students forced to attend YOG events >> Dr Vivian: Singaporeans are proud of YOG >> PM Lee: YOG has struck a “chord” with our people >> Dr Vivian: YOG venues will not become “white elephants” >> Online pressure forced SFI to provide better food for YOG volunteers >> Civil Service Club offering free YOG tickets >> Journey of YOG flame costs Singaporeans $7 million dollars >> Corny YOG propaganda in Straits Times >> Tharman: YOG enthusiasm is real >> Polytechnic student: I don’t care about YOG >> JC students being “volunteered” for YOG >> YOG: What the HELL is that? >> PAP provides YOG athletes and officials three daily buffets >> YOG students being given “dog food” >> Singapore students forced to volunteer for YOG >> Poor ticket sales forced closure of YOG gallery section >> PM Lee calls on Singaporeans to support YOG >> Young Singaporeans hurl vulgarities at YOG >> Dr Vivian wants Singaporeans to celebrate YOG >> NTU students complain about YOG >> Dr Vivian: Sports is not about “petty politics” >> More than 300 Singaporeans joined “I hate YOG” Facebook >> CNA poll: 90 percent of Singaporeans “not interested” in YOG >> Slovak YOG Ambassador slams YOG venues of “school standard” only >> Two Facebook groups calling for boycott of YOG >> Free condoms for YOG officials and athletes >> Singapore helping to repair Jamaica’s stadium in return for YOG marketing >> Former stripper to choreograph opening ceremony of YOG >> Desperate PAP wants Singaporeans to get “passionate” about YOG >> PAP to Singaporeans: Give way to YOG vehicles or get fined $130 >> PM Lee wants Singaporeans to do their part for YOG >> Only six teams in YOG soccer tournament Please join our Facebook page here and invite your friends to do so to create awareness of the current affairs affecting Singaporeans. Please use our online web form to contact us.  Read More →

Now I know really why the YOG is a utter failure, been hearing on Talkback on 938 live on how people are upset over the budget of 300 over million from the initial 100 million. Many are also upset over the delay of the sports facility delayed which are supposed for the YOG due to whatever reason. I am a volunteer/temporary staff working for YOG. This is not my choice but many students like myself are being forced to work for the games saying failing which, you will not get your testimonial and/or may affect your grades. Is this ethical? [Get instant updates and discussions about the YOG on our Facebook page here] I was tasked to work night shift (I will not say who I am working for) because I am a guy and they say its better for guys to take the night job as it is unsafe for girls. We were supposed to work for 19 days straight with 2 days off only. With all the tight security, how can it be unsafe for the girls? Many of the workers I spoke too said they were forced to come to work for the games and they do not have a pay increase although they got transport allowance. What they told me is that they say we should be proud of serving the country rather than asking for more money and its an experience of a life time that money cannot buy. Budget wise, when I sit on the shuttle bus, I spoke to a few athletes and talked to them heartily. What I found out from some is that all foreigners invited to attend the games would be provided with a SIM card with unlimited local calls. The higher ranks one even gets a cell phone. So, is this where are they spending the money instead of promoting it? The marketing of YOG needs improvement where you can hardly hear any promotion being done. So, where did the money of 300 odd million went to? The way they are treating the staff is horrendous. We are not allowed to take breaks for more than half hour. If we wanted to drink, we can only do so in the workforce canteen and if we happened to be in the canteen and wanted a drink, they told us cannot even though there are no atheletes and will reprimand us continuously. We are not allowed to sit anywhere near the canteen otherwise it is a violation of rules. The officials however are allowed to sit down even if there are athletes. This is double standard. The YOG committee keeps walking around to scold all kinds of workers and many which I spoke off is very fed-up and they are not sure they will stay on with the current situation or rather they do not know how long they can tolerate this. To me, even if I am not well, I will not force myself or tell myself to hold on for the games, after all, are we recognised or appreciated? So ironically, they treat the foreigners so well but the locals badly. Many places are short-handed and those there are force to work harder to make up for the short-fall otherwise they may get a pay cut. So must rules to follow, many are unhappy. Another factor is I know from the place I work is many who are working for YOG are Malaysians or Chinese and not many Singaporeans except we the students and a few top guns. To me, the games is really a failure at one angle. Please keep my letter confidential if not my personal particulars to be personal as I am afraid to be black-marked (you know what I mean）. I am really afraid to write this letter as if they know I wrote it, they will blacklist me.) After all, this is just my personal feelings and what I gathered after chatting with many of the various individuals working there. I am writing this just to inform you about happenings from the YOG to vent my frustrations and let people know about it. The more I am scared to write, they more they people would bully the workers. I will be really happy to tell you more by phone if necessary. John Lim Editor’s note: The handphone number of the volunteer removed at the writer’s request.  Read More →