But DPM and SNOC boss Teo will not set gold targets for athletes
By
Leonard Lim
Deputy Prime Minister and SNOC president Teo Chee Hean (centre, in white) and Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan (right of Mr Teo) and other officials posing with Singapore's contingent after the flag presentation ceremony. -- PHOTO: DESMOND WEE
AIM for personal bests and be good hosts. Deputy Prime Minister and Singapore National Olympic Council president Teo Chee Hean had this message for the country's 90-member contingent competing at this month's Asian Youth Games.
'You know me, I never set gold targets,' Mr Teo said. 'What I ask from our athletes is that they always do their best, they conduct themselves well on and off the field, particularly this time because we are the hosts.
'Their conduct should be exemplary... winning with humility and losing graciously.'
Mr Teo, who is also the Minister for Defence, was speaking at the flag presentation ceremony for the Republic's AYG athletes yesterday at Raffles Institution. He was the guest of honour.
There had been previous reports of a five-medal target - including one gold - for Singapore's contingent at the AYG, which is a dry run for next year's Youth Olympic Games.
Mr Teo also called on the athletes, aged between 14 and 17, to set their sights firmly on the 'more challenging' YOG.
He said: 'The AYG will, therefore, be a timely and significant opportunity for our young athletes, who will now be benchmarked against their peers from the 44 other Asian countries on one big common platform.'
Mr Teo also assuaged fears that the H1N1 flu outbreak or security concerns would disrupt the June 29-July 7 Games.
'We're able to manage all these things,' he said.
The AYG will see about 1,300 athletes competing across nine sports: athletics, aquatics, basketball, beach volleyball, bowling, football, sailing, shooting and table tennis.
Read the full report in Wednesday's edition of the Straits Times
