As we are losing jobs by the thousands, with many household falling into financial hardships, and Spore is expected to be the worst performing economy in Asia, Guess what is our PM Lee's freaking priority for the nation ? TABLE TENNIS! WTF, how low can this govt get, planning to exploit 5-year-old toddlers for sport medals.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/401928/1/.html
PM Lee announces comprehensive plans to develop table tennis in S'pore
By Lau Joon-Nie, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 12 January 2009
SINGAPORE: Big plans are afoot to develop Singapore's table-tennis, especially among the young. This comes after the Republic's silver medal win at the Beijing Olympics last year.
Speaking at the Singapore Table Tennis Association's (STTA) fund-raising dinner on Monday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced plans to develop young athletes.
This includes a kindergarten programme by the STTA and the PAP Community Foundation to teach five- to six-year-olds the basics of the sport.
A pilot scheme is currently running at Nee Soon South PCF Kindergarten till March, and if successful could be extended to other interested PCF kindergartens.
There is also a tie-up between the STTA and the Singapore Sports School to raise standards of training and help integrate foreign-born talent into Singapore's national team.
Mr Lee said: "You are not just training the kids to play table-tennis, but at the same time, they're in school and there's an academic curriculum, so they're prepared in a more rounded way for a long-term career and even after they retire from table-tennis."
President of STTA, Lee Bee Wah, said: "As for full-time athletes who have achieved glory for Singapore, they can choose to become coaches or go for further studies. That way, they can concentrate on their sporting careers with the assurance that they have other post-athletic options."
Speaking in Mandarin, Ms Lee also said the association would offer scholarships to promising young athletes and help them develop career pathways. She added that the association had raised over S$1 million so far. - CNA
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/401928/1/.html
PM Lee announces comprehensive plans to develop table tennis in S'pore
By Lau Joon-Nie, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 12 January 2009
SINGAPORE: Big plans are afoot to develop Singapore's table-tennis, especially among the young. This comes after the Republic's silver medal win at the Beijing Olympics last year.
Speaking at the Singapore Table Tennis Association's (STTA) fund-raising dinner on Monday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced plans to develop young athletes.
This includes a kindergarten programme by the STTA and the PAP Community Foundation to teach five- to six-year-olds the basics of the sport.
A pilot scheme is currently running at Nee Soon South PCF Kindergarten till March, and if successful could be extended to other interested PCF kindergartens.
There is also a tie-up between the STTA and the Singapore Sports School to raise standards of training and help integrate foreign-born talent into Singapore's national team.
Mr Lee said: "You are not just training the kids to play table-tennis, but at the same time, they're in school and there's an academic curriculum, so they're prepared in a more rounded way for a long-term career and even after they retire from table-tennis."
President of STTA, Lee Bee Wah, said: "As for full-time athletes who have achieved glory for Singapore, they can choose to become coaches or go for further studies. That way, they can concentrate on their sporting careers with the assurance that they have other post-athletic options."
Speaking in Mandarin, Ms Lee also said the association would offer scholarships to promising young athletes and help them develop career pathways. She added that the association had raised over S$1 million so far. - CNA
