1992 OLYMPICS (Preparation)

Mr Chiam See Tong asked the Minister for Community Development whether the Government has any plans to prepare our sportsmen for the 1992 Olympics to be held at Barcelona, Spain.

The Minister of State for Community Development (Dr Seet Ai Mee) (for the Minister for Community Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am replying on behalf of my Minister.

As in previous Olympics, the Government, through the Singapore Sports Council, will work with the Singapore National Olympic Council and national sports associations to prepare our sportsmen for the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.

The training and preparation of sportsmen and sportswomen are done by the respective national sports associations. The selection of participants will be done by the Singapore National Olympic Council. The Singapore Sports Council helps in providing, where necessary, facilities for training, sports medical assistance and subsidies for coaching. It is still too early to say how many sportsmen will be selected.

Mr Chiam See Tong: What sort of preparations are being made?

Dr Seet Ai Mee: The usual preparations: the selections will be made after the SEA Games, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.

Mr Chiam See Tong: As a sportsman, I am very unhappy with this kind of answer - "the usual preparations". Our sportsmen go to every Olympics and they are knocked out in the first round. So what sort of preparations are being made? "Usual preparations" is not good enough for me.

Dr Seet Ai Mee: Mr Speaker, as a sportswoman, I am aware that much discipline goes into the preparation and selection of sportswomen or men for any competition. I believe the procedure is correct. Only those who excel in SEA Games, in Asian Games and in Commonwealth Games will have proven their ability, and we can then look into the kind of training they will need for the next Olympics.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Sir, if the Minister had said that they have been combing the schools for talent or to prepare certain sportsmen in some areas of sports, I would be happier. But at the moment, they get nothing.

Mr Speaker: Mr Chiam, can you ask your question? What is your question?

Mr Chiam See Tong: No, I still have not got an answer. "The usual preparations" - what kind of answer is that? That is not an answer.

Dr Seet Ai Mee: Mr Speaker, we are a very small nation.

Mr Chiam See Tong: No excuse.

Dr Seet Ai Mee: In the same way as we do not produce geniuses every day, it would be difficult to produce Olympic medallists every day.