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Tag: SEA Games 2015

  • Story Behind Stadium Gate Jams – SINGSOC Over-Catered Seats?

    Story Behind Stadium Gate Jams – SINGSOC Over-Catered Seats?

    By Ariffin Sha

    As scenes of overcrowding outside the Sports Hub yesterday evening for the closing ceremony of the SEA Games went viral, questions need to be asked on whether the Singapore SEA Games Organising Committee (SINGSOC) have done all it could to make it better, or did it instead compound the problem.

    Agitated ticket holders queuing to enter the stadium to watch the closing ceremony might not have realised that the problem went beyond missing a show. The capacity crowd could have turned into a disaster if there was a fire or stampede on site.

    There were reportedly thousands of such ticket holders who were sweating in the crowded confines. SINGSOC had since issued an apology and clarification, indicating that the crowd was due to an entry issue.

    “As a significant proportion of the spectators were at the gates just before the start of the ceremony, there was a need to adjust entry gates and seating arrangements to enable them to be seated as quickly as possible. Consequently, some gates had to be closed for safety reasons.”

    However, the problem might be due to there being too many tickets issued compared to the capacity for the Sports Hub, as some disappointed ticket holders have alleged.

    TOC understands that SINGSOC was unhappy with the number of no-shows at the opening ceremony, as many seats were clearly visible on national television. In order to avoid a repeat of the incident, SINGSOC supposedly decided to over-sell the tickets for the closing ceremony.

    Over-selling tickets is not something alien to event companies. It is a pretty common practice to over-issue tickets by about 5% in the form of complimentary tickets, in order to pack venues.

    But the question becomes one of exactly how much SINGSOC over-issued, if it did indeed do so.

    From pictures and eyewitness accounts, a conservative estimate of the number of people waiting outside the stadium would hover between 10,000 and 15,000.

    Image from an attendee stuck outside the stadium during the SEA Games closing ceremony.
    Image from an attendee stuck outside the stadium during the SEA Games closing ceremony.

    The Sports Hub has a maximum capacity of 55,000, and factoring in seats that need to be allocated for display and participants, it would likely be configured to hold about 40,000 seated ticket holders for the closing ceremony.

    In other words, if SINGSOC did indeed over-issue tickets, they did it at 25% to 35% more seats than the stadium can hold in full capacity, a far cry from the 5% standard.

    Would the Sports Hub had been able to absorb such excess capacity? As a video by Channel NewsAsiashows, there does not seem to be extra room for the thousands who were stuck outside the gate, but who would technically have an empty seat in the stadium.

    Images from various online sources also indicate that there was very little spare capacity inside the stadium to match the crowds waiting outside, although there were a few empty block visible.

    Capacity crowd for the SEA Games closing ceremony.
    Capacity crowd for the SEA Games closing ceremony.

    Who has the legit ticket?

    The overissuing of tickets were mainly in two forms – complimentary tickets for Sponsors and free entry for SEA Games Volunteers. The former might include entities like GP Battery and NTUC, while that the latter could access the Sports Hub by flashing their accreditation passes (a pass given to all volunteers), TOC was told.

    Paying patrons mostly bought their tickets before the start of the SEA Games itself, as the seats were sold out quickly.

    The problem arising from yesterday evening also give reason the question how paying patrons are guaranteed their seats. It is understood that those who bought tickets had designated seats by blocks. However, comments online suggests that such designated seats were not reserved fro them as they rightly expected it to be.

    A paying patron who found his designated seat occupied

    Who were occupying the seats of paying fans? Was it complimentary ticket holders from sponsors and partners, volunteers, or was there excess capacity sold?

    Disregard for safety, poor decisions on capacity

    The crowd waiting outside the stadium was clearly agitated from the humidity and the crowd, from social media postings. There were also accounts of a lot of pushing and shoving going on in the crowd and many like the elderly, the disabled and the young were helplessly caught in the scrum.

    It was also reported that those who managed to get in ended up sitting on the stairway to watch the show. In the event of an emergency, a stampede could have led to serious injuries and death, not only within the stadium, but among the crowds stuck outside.

    Pertinent questions to ask might include whether SINGSOC has consulted Sports Hub management about the ability of the new stadium to accommodate such an expanded capacity. TOC understands that such consultations did not take place.

    An expert in event management TOC spoke to shared that any decision to over-cater for event seats need to take into account the realities of the ground, and an inability to do so reflects lack of competency.

    “When managing such long haul multi sports events, it is important to feel the pulse on the ground so that organisers are aware of public sentiment towards the games. This will help in understanding whether the public are interested/or will attend events. SINGSOC should have realized that public participation for the games was high, and hence the likelihood of attendance at the closing ceremony was likely to be high.”

    About SINGSOC

    SINGSOC is the steering committee for the 28th SEA Games. It’s a team of 20 headed by Minister Lawrence Wong.

    In addition to Minister Lawrence Wong, SINGSOC also features 2 other Ministers – Mr Masagos Zulfiki and Mr Teo Ser Luck and 2 Senior Ministers of State – Ms Indranee Rajah and Ms Josephine Teo.

    singsoc

    In its post-event statement, SINGSOC offered a full refund but as evident from the comments, many are still unsatisfied. Questions also remain about how SIGSOC would be able to identify legitimate tickets in order to effect such a refund.

    There was also no clarity so far about how it was possible for thousands to be stuck outside the stadium, beyond the explanation of a congestion at the gate.

    TOC has sent a number of queries to SINGSOC to seek clarifications on whether tickets were over-issued and how the capacity for the closing ceremony was managed. At time of publishing, SINGSOC has not responded.

     

    Source: www.todayonline.com

  • Of Muftis And Gymnast

    Of Muftis And Gymnast

    This letter stems off the recent Gold Medal achievement of national gymnast Farah Ann Abdul Hadi.

    But the weight of this letter is for those in Malaysia who think that they have the right to ridicule others and judge whether one’s actions are properly Islamic.

    Recently, the Mufti of Perak Tan Sri Dr Harussani Zakaria claimed that gymnastics is not for Muslim women because of its attire. Alongside him, plenty others condemned Farah for her outfit, evidently incapable of comprehending the amount of hard work and practice required to achieve what Farah did.

    The irony of it all comes back to the lost condemners, the ones who think they have the authority to judge other Muslims.

    No matter who you are, no matter your family or your political authority, as Muslims, no one has the right to tell others whether Allah will accept you.

    As Muslims, we are taught to focus primarily on our own connection with Allah and not to be running around wagging our fingers.

    I may not be an Islamic scholar, but as a Muslim, I know that the basic truth of Islam is its non-compulsion.

    As stated in Surah Al-Baqarah, “Let there be no compulsion in religion,” (2: 256) meaning that Islam comes from within; it is a personal decision and a faith that can only be developed when the individual decides to engage with the Quran.

    Similarly, in Surah Yunus, the Quran asks rhetorically: “Can you compel people to believe against their will?” (10: 100).

    Islam’s very definition is “submission to God”.

    No one has the authority to make you submit, no one is allowed to push your forehead to the ground when praying.

    During the time of prophet Muhammad (SAW), Islam represented a belief that empowered the poor and the oppressed of Mecca, the prophet’s first revelation was concerned on aiding the poor. Today Islam is being used by old men to maintain control of a society where women are increasingly taking roles of leadership.

    In specific regards to Harussani, it is inadvisable to take your recommendations and advice seriously considering how, just this April, you proclaimed that wives are unable to refuse when the husband asks for sex, that apparently women lose their right to decline intercourse after the dowry has been paid: “Once she got married…she can’t refuse unless when she’s [on her] period.”

    What perhaps makes this statement more alarming is how you cite Prophet Muhammad SAW to justify this rapist assertion. Let it be clear, Prophet Muhammad SAW, who had even been criticized by his fellow companions for giving equality to women in Medina, would never condone such an animalistic behavior from any man, let alone a Mufti of Perak.

    Stepping back, its easy to recognize that the ignorant criticisms on Farah’s gold medal success is just another chapter in the extending story of Malaysia’s skewed and wrongfully authoritarian view of Islam, but ignoring or even allowing individuals such as the Mufti of Perak to spread false rumors about Islam is detrimental to our national societal maturity.

    It is dangerous to our democracy.

    The example of South Africa’s apartheid is a case in point. In one of the most morally corrupt regimes in world history, it is vital to note that apartheid held its strength from the state Church, from—now very clearly false—interpretations of Christianity.

    In the 1960’s and 70’s, the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) in South Africa upheld the belief that God had made man of distinct color so each would have his own way of life, they proclaimed: “God had established nations as cultural communities, each having its own identities and man dare not misinterpret God’s will in a manner which would upset the order which he established.”

    As a result, the church ensured that the different ethnicities in South Africa would maintain segregation. Church’s were built separate for whites, for coloureds and for Africans.

    Eventually, South African apartheid leaders used the Church to justify their rule of segregation and oppression of the African community. Eventually, the apartheid government invaded school books to ensure that children of South Africa had no conception of a world without division.

    The point here is not that Malaysia lies vulnerable to be an apartheid state but that it is important to comprehend religious “authorities” as individuals who hold their own personal beliefs: if you are a racist and a Christian, you’re a Christian racist, if you’re a sexist and a Muslim, then you’re a Muslim sexist who uses Islam and the Quran to justify your beliefs.

    There are plenty of religious leaders today — and especially in Malaysia — who make outlandish statements then cowardly hide behind Islam to justify their claims.

    As a growing and maturing society, it is pivotal for us to remember that when religious leaders say, “the Quran says,” part of the “saying” comes through their interpretation, you don’t listen to the Quran speak, you have to read it.

    And when you read it, it is up to you on how you comprehend the message. This is the miracle and empowerment that the Quran gives to its readers, that everyone has the ability to pick it up and make your own conclusions through your own interpretations.

    It is a direct connection with Allah SWT.

    Last week, I attended the Friday prayer at New York University and listened to their Islamic Chaplain, Khalid Latif talk about the troubling feature of Muslims today; how Muslims now are too focused on the do’s and don’ts, on what’s haram and what’s not, that we’ve forgotten to focus on the primary message of Prophet Muhammad SAW of showing unrelenting love to all peoples.

    It is from the Prophet that we must remember to not cast judgment on those we disagree with, it is through the Prophet that we should remember to always respect the person in front of us, no matter if they’re Muslim or non-Muslim, man or woman.

    “Kita manusia sama saja. Tiada tinggi, tiada rendah.”

    Congratulations Farah on your success in gold!

    Your passion for gymnastics is and should rightfully be an inspiration to all in Malaysia.

    * This is the personal opinion of the writer, Shamil Norshidi, and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail Online.

     

    Source: www.themalaymailonline.com

  • The Stars Of SEA Games 2015

    The Stars Of SEA Games 2015

    The SEA Games 2015 has come to an end, with host nation Singapore achieving an unprecedented 84 gold medals.

    Team Singapore came in second place in the overall medal tally – just behind Thailand. And this is Singapore’s highest ranking since the 1975 Sea Peninsular games in Thailand, where they also came in second place.

    Our gold medal haul also confidently surpassed our previous record where Singapore won 50 gold medals in 1993, which was also hosted in Singapore.

    Singapore total 258-medal haul also trounced our previous record of 164 medals, also during the 1993 games here.

    While every athlete put their best foot forward, there were some that stood out and made outstanding achievements.

    Below is a list of the Top 6 Singaporean athletes

    1. Shanti Pereira

     

    Our national sprint queen raced across the finish lines (and into our hearts) to win the nation’s first sprint gold medal at the SEA Games for 42 years.

    While doing that, she managed to re-write a new national record time of 23.60s for the women’s 200m title.

     

    2. Joseph Schooling

    Schooling currently carries the nation’s hope at our first Olympic medal for swimming – and judging by his performance at the SEA Games, it’s an achievable feat. Schooling won nine golds and broke nine games records while he was at it.

    3. Muhammad Nur Alfian

    It’s a true underdog story that may remind people of The Karate Kid. Alfian was up against defending world Silat champion Tran Dinh Nam from Vietnam. Mid-way through, he suffered a deep cut between his toes.

    And yet, he came out on tops and won the sole gold medal for Silat against all odds.

    In an even more poignant moment, he was in tears throughout the National Anthem during the victory ceremony, proving just how much the gold medal means to him.

    4. Ashley Liew

    ​

    ​The 28-year-old marathon runner suddenly found himself ahead of the other 11 competitors.

    But this was because the rest had mistaken taken a different route while he made the correct turn.

    But instead of taking advantage of his unexpected lead, he slowed down and waited for the rest of the pack to catch up instead.

    And this display of sportsmanship earned him raves online, including from Prime Minsiter Lee Hsien Loong.

    5. Squash pair

    The squash doubles team of Marcus Phua and Vivian Rhamanan ended Singapore’s 20-year wait for a gold medal as they won Singapore’s first SEA Games gold in squash since 1995 when they clinched the men’s doubles jumbo final.

    While the Singaporean athletes clearly shone on home ground, there were foreign athletes too that deserved praise.

    Here is our list below:

    1. Nguyen Thi Anh Vien

    Vietnamese Nguyen Thi Anh Vien could possibly be the only swimmer during the games who could come close to outshining swim star Schooling. The 18-year-old won an impressive eight golds and five games records. Let’s not forget she entered herself in 11 events.

    2. Aaliyah Yoong Hanifah

    ​

    What were you doing at the age of 11? This Malaysian water skiier is already considered a veteran in the sport as she won her first SEA Games gold medal aged 8 in 2011. This year, she managed to get two golds and she said that she is already aiming for three next year.

    3. Phyo Kyaw Zin

    Myanmar goalkeeper Phyo Kyaw Zin played a big role in helping Myanmar in their improbable journey to reach the football final. Despite their 0-3 loss in the final to Thailand, Phyo saved a total of 12 shots in the final. Impressive.

     

    Source: www.tnp.sg

  • Poor Crowd Control Mars SEA Games Closing Ceremony

    Poor Crowd Control Mars SEA Games Closing Ceremony

    Some spectators who wanted to experience the 28th SEA Games closing ceremony on Tuesday night were left disappointed when they could not enter the National Stadium despite having tickets.

    Media reports said spectators were shuffled from gate to gate in order to enter through a gate with less people.

    Some were also told the stadium was full.

    Photos on social media showed crowds of spectators stuck outside the National Stadium gates, waiting to enter.

    Some also gave up and left after waiting until as late as 8.30pm to enter the Stadium. The pre-show segment began at 7pm.

    Yahoo Singapore also spotted spectators coming in during the halfway point of the show and sitting on the stairs near the area with allocated seating for the media.

    One frustrated spectator by the name of Puey Yee Tan wrote on the official SEA Games Facebook page, “Should we wait, should we go away? And nobody on the ground seems to know what is happening. I am appalled at this management. Opening Ceremony was hardly like this.”

    Some also complained they did not receive the supporters’ medallion that was supposed to be in each fun pack, or that they were not given fun packs at all.

    Media reports added that tensions flared and some spectators berated volunteers at the different gates.

    “In the midst of all this, the organisers should also apologise to the young volunteers who had to take the brunt of the frustration from ticket holders for the series of decisions made by the organisers that led to this situation,” said Matthew Tan on the SEA Games’ official Facebook page.

    The organising committee issued the following statement:

    “We understand that there were spectators coming to the closing ceremony of the 28th SEA Games who were unable to be seated for the show.

    “As a significant proportion of the spectators were at the gates just before the start of the ceremony, there was a need to adjust entry gates and seating arrangements to enable them to be seated as quickly as possible. Consequently, some gates had to be closed for safety reasons.

    “The organising committee apologises for the inconvenience caused and disappointment of those affected.”

    It also offered a full refund to those who purchased a ticket and were unable to be seated, as well as the supporters’ medallion.

     

    Source: https://sg.sports.yahoo.com

  • 20 Athletes You Wish You Could See More Of

    20 Athletes You Wish You Could See More Of

    So many athletes have set this SEA Games alight with their performances.

    But as the Games comes to an end, we look at 20 we wish could just stay on a little longer – after all, they are so easy on the eyes.

    Male athletes

    1. Irfan Fandi, Singapore, 17 (Football)

    Singapore footballer Irfan Fandi.   — ST PHOTOS: KUA CHEE SIONG/CHONG JUN LIANG

    The eldest son of Singapore legend Fandi Ahmad appears to have inherited the best of both worlds – his famous father’s footballing talent, and his mother’s (former model Wendy Jacobs) good looks.

    With his strapping 1.87m frame and smouldering stare, small wonder then that the Young Lions striker already has a rabid following of young female fans on social media.

    2. Tyler Christian Ruiz, Philippines, 23 (High jump)

    Filipino high jumper Tyler Christian Ruiz.  — ST PHOTOS: CHONG JUN LIANG

    This Filipino-American dreamboat doesn’t just excel in sport – he’s pretty nifty on the piano and guitar too.

    Finished fifth in the men’s high jump with a 2.08m effort, well short of his personal best of 2.13m.

    3. Kenny Bun, Cambodia, 25 (Tennis)

    Cambodian tennis player Kenny Bun. — PHOTOS: FACEBOOK/TENNIS FEDERATION OF CAMBODIA WEBSITE 

    Born in France, the tanned and wiry Bun is coolness personified on the tennis court. Won a bronze in the men’s singles.

    4. Brandon Ooi, Singapore, 20 (Canoeing)

    Singapore canoeist Brandon Ooi.  — ST PHOTOS: DANIEL NEO/KEVIN LIM

    A ripped physique has seen Ooi appearing in The Straits Times’ Hot Bods section, on the cover (shirtless) of weekly magazine 8 Days and receiving several modelling offers.

    Won gold and silver medals in the men’s K2 1,000m and K4 200m events respectively.

    5. Sarach Yooyen, Thailand, 23 (Football)

    Thai football captain Sarach Yooyen.  — PHOTOS: LIM SIN THAI & SINGAPORE SEA GAMES ORGANISING COMMITTEE/ACTION IMAGES VIA REUTERS

    On the football pitch, the skipper orchestrates his team’s play from the heart of midfield.

    Off it, Yooyen, who plays for Muangthong United in the Thai Premier League, has got female fans swooning over his ruggedly handsome face.

    6. Pham Phuoc Hung, Vietnam, 26 (Gymnastics)

    Vietnamese gymnast Pham Phuoc Hung.  — PHOTOS: FACEBOOK/AFP

    Lithe, flexible and sporting an eye-catching crop of dyed-gold hair, the artistic gymnast has turned heads at the Bishan Sports Hall.

    Pham concluded his campaign with a gold, two silvers and two bronzes.

    7. Harry Morris, Philippines, 30 (Rugby)

    Filipino rugby player Harry Morris.  — PHOTOS: INSTAGRAM/HMORRIS140

    The British-Filipino marine biologist and TV host combines brawn and brains in one hunky package. Has also endorsed several products back in the Philippines.

    8. Mark Leong, Singapore, 17 (Waterski)

    Singapore waterskiier Mark Leong.  — ST PHOTOS: KEVIN LIM

    Leong, who has German blood, has been making waves at the Bedok Reservoir alongside golden girl Sasha Christian. Set a new national record on his way to clinching the men’s slalom title.

    Female athletes

    9. Lindswell Kwok, Indonesia, 23 (Wushu)

    Indonesian wushu exponent Lindswell Kwok. — PHOTOS: FACEBOOK & SINGAPORE SEA GAMES ORGANISING COMMITTEE/ACTION IMAGES VIA REUTERS

    This taijiquan and tajijian world champion packs a lethal punch, winning gold in both optional events at these Games.

    Kwok is a fan of singer Bruno Mars and has a unique ritual of trimming her locks before or after a competition, which she says helps her alleviate the tension.

    10. Rachel Daquis, Philippines, 27 (Volleyball)

    Filipino volleyballer Rachel Anne Daquis.   — PHOTOS: DESMOND FOO/FHM MAGAZINE (PHILIPPINES)

    With her model-like looks, this leggy beauty is, quite rightly, the poster girl for the sport in her country.

    Daquis, who made the cover of FHM Philippines’ October 2014 issue, emerged seventh in a recent poll of the magazine’s top 10 sexiest women.

    11. Farah Ann Abdul Hadi, Malaysia, 21 (Gymnastics)

    Malaysian gymnast Farah Ann Abdul Hadi.   — PHOTOS: FACEBOOK/CAROLINE CHIA

    Despite doing her country proud with six golds, the artistic gymnast found herself at the centre of a controversy when netizens accused her of wearing revealing attire to compete.

    Her sister Katarina Abdul Hadi is in Malaysia’s synchronised swimming squad.

    12. Thidasavanh Sotthachit, Laos, 17 (Taekwondo)

    Laotian taekwondo exponent Thidasavanh Sotthachit.   — PHOTOS: FACEBOOK/NEO XIAOBIN

    The Vientiane native, who made her Games debut in Singapore, is still in high school and is a fan of rock band Maroon 5. Interestingly, the school is called Sotthachit School as her mother is the principal.

    She lost her women’s Under-62kg semi-final bout to eventual champion Ha Thi Nguyen of Vietnam.

    13. Nurul Suhaila, Singapore, 20 (Silat)

    Singapore’s silat exponent Nurul Suhaila Mohd Saiful.  — PHOTOS: BERITA HARIAN

    Suhaila, along with her older sister and fellow silat exponent Shafiqah, have been dubbed the “white twins” due to their fair complexion.

    The Ngee Ann Polytechnic School of Film and Media Studies alumnus is interested in a career in TV production.

    14. Sailub Lertratanachai, Thailand, 22 (Equestrian)

    Thai rider Sailub Lertratanachai.  — PHOTO: FACEBOOK/INSTAGRAM

    The sweet-looking Sailub is the eldest daughter of famous Thai radio DJ Vinit Lertratanachai. Her younger sister Siengsaw is also in Thailand’s equestrian team.

    15. Katharina Lehnert, Philippines, 21 (Tennis)

    Filipino tennis player Katharina Lehnert, who is half-German.  — PHOTOS: FACEBOOK/CAROLINE CHIA

    While rainy weather put a dampener on large chunks of the tennis competition, German-born Lehnert certainly made up for it with her showbiz looks.

    She won a bronze in the women’s singles and two silvers in the doubles and team events.

    16. Chanboramey Ngoun, Cambodia, 27 (Sepak takraw)

    Cambodian sepak takraw player Chanboramey Ngoun.   — PHOTOS: FACEBOOK & JASON O’BRIEN/ACTION IMAGES

    Ngoun, who was part of the regu team that lost all three of their group matches at the Games, has been approached by Cambodia’s state television network to work as one of its emcees.

    Her personal Facebook page shows the pretty 27-year-old supporting her compatriots at various events and checking out the sights in Singapore.

    17. Liane Wong, Singapore, 21 (Fencing)

    Singapore fencer Liane Wong.  — PHOTOS: FACEBOOK & JOSEPH NAIR/SPORT SINGAPORE

    Wong’s older sister Cheryl also fences, with the duo picking up the sport at a young age after watching their brother fence. The siblings, together with Wang Wenying and Nicole Wong, picked up a gold in the women’s team foil event.

    18. Larasati Gading, Indonesia, 43 (Equestrian)

    Indonesian rider Larasati Gading.   — PHOTOS: INDONESIA TATLER & SINGAPORE SEA GAMES ORGANISING COMMITTEE/ACTION IMAGES VIA REUTERS

    Gading, a mother of three, cut a glamorous figure during the equestrian competition. She is also a successful entrepreneur back home, running her own equestrian school and supplies company.

    The veteran trotted away with both the dressage individual and team titles.

    19. Shelby Koh, Singapore, 20 (Netball)

    Singapore netballer Shelby Koh. — PHOTOS: ST FILE/THE NEW PAPER

    Koh, who plays wing attack, is of mixed parentage – her father is Singaporean and mother, Australian. The 1.75cm-tall beauty loves Indian food and bubble tea.

    Part of the team which beat rivals Malaysia to secure a historic netball gold.

    20. Chelsea Sim, Singapore, 19 (Taekwondo)

    Saingapore’s taekwondo exponenet Chelsea Sim.  — PHOTOS: FACEBOOK & SINGAPORE SEA GAMES ORGANISING COMMITTEE/ACTION IMAGES VIA REUTERS

    Sim’s petite 1.50m frame belies a fiercely competitive streak – she bounced back from the disappointment of losing out on a gold in the individual poomsae two years ago in Myanmar to secure victory on home soil.

    Loves shopping and watching TV series like any ordinary girl, but watch out for her swift, gravity-defying kicks.