pay our national athletes well? ::

what bit me, i've no idea. but im quite overwhelmed by this sudden urge to, no no, not to dig my nose, but to be involved in sports affair. not the physical sports part, however, but the administrator part you know. all because singapore isn't exactly well known to pay their national athletes well. so one fine day, i typed this in www.sgwutan.com


I was at Poly Forum last (last?) year and was given the topic of "Sports in Singapore" to discuss..

Being a sports enthusiast, has several contacts with National Team people in wushu and Taekwando and with my coach sometimes lamenting that sportsmen in SG don't get paid enough, it was quite natural to discuss about the salary given to National Sports(wo)men. To be really frank, unless you hold competitions and stuff, I really can't think of any reasons how sports can contribute to the economy of the society.

Correct me if Im wrong. But really, unless you sell merchandise like what ManU did and have World Cup etc to generate advertising revenues, people betting on sports, there is no other way an athlete contributes to the society. Unless the athlete wins something let's say Olympics, yes, (s)he brings glory to the nation, but where did the money come from again? eh? if the Olympic council gives money, the money is most probably sponsored which means its from a advertising source and that brings you back to the advertising cycle (Business) right? If the Government decides to reward you because you win, then the money comes from the taxpayers right?

Erm, so with that, I kinda concluded that that's why our sports(wo)men are paid so little in comparision to their counterparts in maybe financial, education, media industry. And because of this, there is not much support from parents who probably desire their kid to become a doctor than a sportsperson. Okay, that's the problem now. So Im going to offer solutions...

Being in the advertsing line, I think that with the right marketing guy around, wuzong might want to try getting a few giants like Nike, some banks, McDonalds to sponsor cold hard cash ala salary to 1 athlete. As in 1 giant to 1 athelete and the athlete will probably have to like do promotional stuff for the company.

Like let's say McDonalds sponsor ****, then **** will eat McDonalds everytime reporters interview him and pose with Ronald McDonalds every time after a sporting event and openly declares that he loves McDonalds and his biao yan fu will have a M for McDonalds at the back besides the Singapore flag you see at the front. Anyway, their pay will probably commensurate with the duration of their routine. Like Chang Chuan is around 1 minute plus right? so athletes doing chang chuan will probably get less wheras Taiji is like super long, so athletes doing taiji will earn more money. Haha..

Or is Nike is willing to sponsor then they'll wear Nike dri-fi biao yan fu which comes in bright pink or neon yellow with the Nike logo and latest nike wushu shoes...(they'll have to start developing one) Then you can see our athletes in those Nothing-is-Impossible posters le.. eh, oops, that's addidas I think. Nevertheless, quite suitable for Nan Quan athletes.

Okay okay, I digressed, then their pay will be in accordance to how many times they promote/endorse the goods and how many times they win. So if they win right? Then they get extra money. So they get from government, sponsor plus their wu guan and sports council. Isn't it a WIN-WIN-WIN-WIN-WIN situation.

1. Government win cos they brought glory to nation and they reduce the number of people dying from lack of exercise but lesser revenue to extrim and thus, no more scandalous friendship breaking dramas like Slim 10 case.

2. Sponsor win cos they rake in money from people who are crazy about those athletes enough to buy the goods they endorse and other people who were brain washed by the advertisements and the 'free' airtime commercials they got while TV stations film the athletes when they're doing their routine and the brand will be prominently displayed. If it hits 'evening news' that's even better. Almost the whole Singapore population can see their brand. Also, they will be associated with athletes, means they'll have a healthy image..which I think now after Super Size me, McDonalds will seriously need.

3. Wuguan win, cos its their student mah..and if their student do well.. other people will come and join and that means more money for them.

4. Sports Council got their 'ambassadors' who are the athletes indirectly promoting sports to the people and thus, they'll fulfil the aim of reducing kids in trim and fit clubs because the kids will dream of flying around like Jet Li and thus sign up for wushu classes.

5. Athletes win cos they get the monthly salary which is competitive to the 'private sector' and they can train FULL time and WIN more medals and have enough to indulge in a 5 room flat or even condo and that will reflect well on sports cos these will mean that parents will encourage their children to do sports because they will now be able to stay in at least a 5 rm flat if they perform well in the sports arena. Now..isn't this a vicious cycle?

See what I mean.. They must run themselves like a business to grow money in order to sustain themselves in the society, able to train full time and to make everyone elses' life easier (the marketing executives of McDonalds and their parents and civil servants in Sports Council) hahhaa... hey guys, despite starting off in a quite a serious tone, but the above is said in jest though.. just a thought bounced off from talking to one of the shi xiongs the other day. But really, wuzong should try running themselves like ManU. hehee.. to be able to maintain a pool of quality athletes and sustain themselves on the long run.

am quite glad many had responded to it and i do hope we're finally you know, promoting a real sporting culture in singapore really soon. gao jiao lian said someone at the top is reading. i sure do hope the person will find this relevant and stuff.

orh well.. maybe i should just go consider be a sports administrator. more fun than programming anytime or is it?