Settled fairly
May 29, 2009 by admin
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THE parties embroiled in the Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA) dispute over the nomination process for the Coach of the Year Award should settle the matter ‘in a dignified and fair manner,’ Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports urged on Friday.
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan said ‘it is unfortunate’ that the non-nomination of the former national tennis coach Liu Guodong has evolved into a public dispute between the coach and the STTA.
‘As the parties involved are still trying to resolve this issue, I would refrain from passing any comments at this point of time,’ he said in Parliament, when responding to a question from MP for Marine Parade GRC, Mr Seah Kian Peng. ‘I would, however, urge both parties to settle this issue in a dignified and fair manner.’
Mr Seah had asked the minister to outline the roles and involvement of MCYS with the Singapore Sports Council, Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) and the various national sports associations (NSAs). He also wanted to know what are learning points from the ministry’s perspective on the nomination process for the Coach of the Year Award, given the public interest on the issue.
The latest turn of events arose after the association refused to nominate ex-national head coach Liu for this year’s Singapore Sports Awards, which many believed he would be a shoo-in to win. STTA had said then that Liu was not worthy of the award.
Angered by what he saw as a slight on his character and integrity, Liu demanded an explanation and flew to Singapore earlier this month to seek a resolution to the argument. However, after two meetings with STTA officials, he left in a huff, saying nothing had been resolved.
Liu, 35, left the association last year after leading the women’s table tennis team to a historic silver medal at the Beijing Olympics. But he also made the news for his controversial management style. He was accused of neglecting the men’s team and then-Singapore No. 1 Wang Yuegu in the build-up to the Olympics.
In his response on Friday, Dr Balakrishnan said the Singapore Sports Awards is a programme initiated by the SNOC in 1967. The Awards include the Coach of the Year. They are governed by a framework of rules and selection criteria set by the SNOC.
‘SNOC would make these rules and selection criteria clear to all parties involved before each round of nominations,’ explained the minister. ‘The NSAs decide on their nominations for SNOC awards, after taking into account all the relevant factors. MCYS and SSC are not involved in the NSAs’ nomination process or the final decision by SNOC.’
He added that the SNOC and NSAs are governed by their respective constitutions, and the ministry and SSC are not involved in their routine operations or programmes.
Source: Straits Times
May 29, 2009 by admin
Filed under News
Leave a comment
THE parties embroiled in the Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA) dispute over the nomination process for the Coach of the Year Award should settle the matter ‘in a dignified and fair manner,’ Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports urged on Friday.
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan said ‘it is unfortunate’ that the non-nomination of the former national tennis coach Liu Guodong has evolved into a public dispute between the coach and the STTA.
‘As the parties involved are still trying to resolve this issue, I would refrain from passing any comments at this point of time,’ he said in Parliament, when responding to a question from MP for Marine Parade GRC, Mr Seah Kian Peng. ‘I would, however, urge both parties to settle this issue in a dignified and fair manner.’
Mr Seah had asked the minister to outline the roles and involvement of MCYS with the Singapore Sports Council, Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) and the various national sports associations (NSAs). He also wanted to know what are learning points from the ministry’s perspective on the nomination process for the Coach of the Year Award, given the public interest on the issue.
The latest turn of events arose after the association refused to nominate ex-national head coach Liu for this year’s Singapore Sports Awards, which many believed he would be a shoo-in to win. STTA had said then that Liu was not worthy of the award.
Angered by what he saw as a slight on his character and integrity, Liu demanded an explanation and flew to Singapore earlier this month to seek a resolution to the argument. However, after two meetings with STTA officials, he left in a huff, saying nothing had been resolved.
Liu, 35, left the association last year after leading the women’s table tennis team to a historic silver medal at the Beijing Olympics. But he also made the news for his controversial management style. He was accused of neglecting the men’s team and then-Singapore No. 1 Wang Yuegu in the build-up to the Olympics.
In his response on Friday, Dr Balakrishnan said the Singapore Sports Awards is a programme initiated by the SNOC in 1967. The Awards include the Coach of the Year. They are governed by a framework of rules and selection criteria set by the SNOC.
‘SNOC would make these rules and selection criteria clear to all parties involved before each round of nominations,’ explained the minister. ‘The NSAs decide on their nominations for SNOC awards, after taking into account all the relevant factors. MCYS and SSC are not involved in the NSAs’ nomination process or the final decision by SNOC.’
He added that the SNOC and NSAs are governed by their respective constitutions, and the ministry and SSC are not involved in their routine operations or programmes.
Source: Straits Times
