Teo: No excuse for poor sportsmanship
The recent spate of unsavoury incidents in the local schools sports scene have not been the best advertisement for the build-up to August's inaugural Youth Olympic Games, which Singapore will host.
Speaking at a ceremony yesterday to mark the relocation of the Games' first Countdown Clock from City Hall to One Fullerton, Syogoc co-adviser Teo Ser Luck said there is no excuse for such behaviour. "I was really disappointed. These things happen, but to see it at such a level, I was quite shocked," said Mr Teo, who is also Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports.
Two weeks ago, a Bedok Town Secondary School rugby player was admitted into a hospital's intensive care unit with head injuries after allegedly being beaten several times during a match against Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road).
On Monday, a St Andrew's Secondary School rugby player punched an opponent from Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) after the National Schools "B" Division under-17 rugby championship final - ACS(I) won 8-7 - leaving the latter with a bloodied nose and broken tooth after he allegedly provoked the St Andrew's player.
The following day, Fajar Secondary School's judokas staged a 20-minute sit-in protest after one of their team-mates was disqualified for competing in the wrong category in a match against Hougang Secondary School.
Mr Teo said that teachers and coaches are also responsible for instilling the right values in their students. "Sport is supposed to develop character," said Mr Teo, an avid footballer and triathlete. "Athletes cannot let emotions overwhelm them.
"Mistakes like these reduce the credibility of the athletes and their schools." Tan Yo-Hinn
Just question the PAP government on SPORTMANSHIP. Where is the election boundaries? Our youths learn from their leaders.
The recent spate of unsavoury incidents in the local schools sports scene have not been the best advertisement for the build-up to August's inaugural Youth Olympic Games, which Singapore will host.
Speaking at a ceremony yesterday to mark the relocation of the Games' first Countdown Clock from City Hall to One Fullerton, Syogoc co-adviser Teo Ser Luck said there is no excuse for such behaviour. "I was really disappointed. These things happen, but to see it at such a level, I was quite shocked," said Mr Teo, who is also Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports.
Two weeks ago, a Bedok Town Secondary School rugby player was admitted into a hospital's intensive care unit with head injuries after allegedly being beaten several times during a match against Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road).
On Monday, a St Andrew's Secondary School rugby player punched an opponent from Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) after the National Schools "B" Division under-17 rugby championship final - ACS(I) won 8-7 - leaving the latter with a bloodied nose and broken tooth after he allegedly provoked the St Andrew's player.
The following day, Fajar Secondary School's judokas staged a 20-minute sit-in protest after one of their team-mates was disqualified for competing in the wrong category in a match against Hougang Secondary School.
Mr Teo said that teachers and coaches are also responsible for instilling the right values in their students. "Sport is supposed to develop character," said Mr Teo, an avid footballer and triathlete. "Athletes cannot let emotions overwhelm them.
"Mistakes like these reduce the credibility of the athletes and their schools." Tan Yo-Hinn
Just question the PAP government on SPORTMANSHIP. Where is the election boundaries? Our youths learn from their leaders.
