If there's anything the Olympics have taught me, (oooh an entry about sports, so unlike me)
Africans can run.
Ang-mohs can swim.
Chinese can play table tennis.
And no, I don't idolise athletes, find them incredibly hot or dashing, or wish to marry them (people in China do that if you don't know) I have some sense in my head, well, some.
Fuelling stereotypes? As long as it doesn't hurt anyone, I'm cool. Quite entertaining actually. Must say this year's Olympics interested me more than Athens 04, for one thing I could watch people compete in sports without falling asleep. Not bad, considering how I can't stand the fact that we're made to watch school Sports Days, like I don't really give a damn unless I see someone I know on the running track. Then it's back to pissing off the cheerleaders due to my.. erm, lack of spirit.
Say it loud and say it proud. I'm for the Arts over and over again.
Well, guess from the reactions of people who park their asses on the couch watching (or at the Nat Day Rally), there's a lot nationalism and politics behind the Games.. I'm just wondering if it's the story behind the sweat, slip-ups and record-breaking that's so intriguing.
Congrats to Singapore on breaking the medal drought anyway. I didn't expect a win, much less a Silver medal.. to think I was laughing about this to Sharon during PE. *eats my words*
Of course another subject of discussion would be our imported talent, imported sportsman, imported salaries-to-be-paid to, imported pride, imported silver medals... Yup that's in short for what everyone's talking about. Quite clearly there's nationalism here, like who wouldn't want to see a true blue Singaporean bring home the glory? That we can hold our own against foreign athletes and show that yup, Singaporeans can run, swim, and paddle. Nothing wrong with feeling that way actually.
Or do entrepreneurship, make babies, pay more without grumbling to ERP gantries, make babies, up the replacement rate, make babies, date, marry and most importantly, spawn.
Oh my, I can see SDU starting to interfere with young adults to "change their mindset" already. NO!!! You can't touch us in school! (oh wait, they already did) Alright, more of this in the next post.
So there, some countries just churn out athletes like a baby making machine. So much that only the best of the best can make it to the national team. Guess that's why China tends to dominate table tennis and all. Cos the best of the best are in the team, whereas the second-besters are all over the world. Apparently, Singapore's not the only country who imports second besters, so ... misery loves company. :p
If you can't produce your own athletes, they're available on supermarket shelves. Like the news said, overcrowding. Demand and supply I guess, who would want to sit on the bench and wait for four years to go by every Olympics? The athletes want a chance to represent, to train with the best infrastructure and coaches, and countries want sports medals to gain "face".
As for the politics, the Bird Nest is one thing. My country kicks your country's ass oh yeah. Whoever gets to host the Olympics are obviously rich enough, powerful enough and yup.. hen you mian zi. Of course there's a lot of complicated relations in dangling financial carrots to athletes. Plus, isn't it weird that there aren't a lot of South East Asian representatives? Ah well.
In the name of exemplified sporting spirit and untold stories, go Beijing.Labels: Secondary School Life, What's up or new
