The YOG Spirit

This is the fourth post for term 3.

Last Tuesday, the whole school gathered at Kah Kee Drive to witness the “YOG torch relay”. We expected the torch relay to be very grand and majestic, like having the police escorting the torchbearer and the media.

However, we were all wrong as the torch relay was only less than five minutes when a not-so-famous man walked to the clock tower carrying a torch. Can you believe it? We waited for about two hours just to see this “spectacular” torch relay that will “goes down into the Olympic history”. If what the government said was true, I can only say that the Olympics’ efforts has gone to waste. Well, all these were my thoughts during the two hours!

You can’t blame someone who stood under the sun for two hours to say all these. The whole school, like me, was quite angry over this incident as we were merely ‘cheerleaders’ who couldn’t catch a glimpse on the performances put up by our school. However, this was a ‘slack’ period for us and also a study break as we got to chat with our friends. Also, what pissed me off was not the long waiting under the burning sun; it was the propaganda the media instilled in us. Upon seeing us sweating and grumbling, several cameramen told us to smile and be happy as they said “Guys, smile! Be happy for Singapore!” before they started filming us. What hypocrites! From here, I can infer that the torch relay we see in the TV is ‘false’ and ‘hypocritical’.

Mr Balan changed the class’s mindset after giving us an impromptu lecture on the road. Being an inspiring teacher, I could remember his words vividly. He understood our plight and he said, “The school has its reasons for doing this. But what really is the main aim for standing under the hot sun doing all these? Can you write me an essay on this and submit to me by Friday?” Firstly, he was witty (haha!) as his move meant more homework for us! Secondly, I thought through his words, about the real aim of the YOG-a small-scale event, compared to the Olympics.

I know that everything that the school does has its aims and rationales. But what really is the rationale to waiting under the hot sun to witness the torch relay? Is it to tell the world that Singaporeans are enthusiastic about this upcoming YOG? Or is it to let us witness the event that will goes down into history? Yes, all these are some of the reasons but the main reason is that we are Singaporeans.

Every countryman supports his country’s actions in whatever she is doing, just like the Germans supporting Hitler’s ‘immoral’ actions. Now that Singapore has managed to get a chance to host the first YOG, don’t you think we should feel proud of her as she is only a ‘small red dot’? Although YOG is a small-scale event that caters only to the youths, Singapore has made a big step by being able to host it. Countries like Malaysia and Indonesia do not get a chance. Since this is the first time Singapore hosts this sports event, it is normal to witness some hiccups, just like the torch relay. In the Olympics, the torch is considered to be holy as it is blessed by the Greek Gods. That is why Singapore should publicise the torch relay to the public as I believe not all of us know what is going on.

In a nutshell, we should support Youth Olympics as it is hosted by our dear Singapore. No matter how many mistakes is made during this event, YOG is still hosted by Singapore.