YOG ticketing Glitches

YOG ticketing Glitches

August 22nd, 2010

As mentioned earlier, schools are ‘invited’ to attend these games. From my understanding, school tickets are sold to schools at a much discounted prize of $2. It has been inconvenient for spectators who wish to watch the games especially when our local athletes have succeeded to advance to the next round of competition.

To simply put it, school students only attend the games in the early morning/afternoon aka curriculum time. During these times, athletes who are competing would only be in their preliminary rounds. What follows are the inconveniences that schools have brought to YOG spectators.

1) Schools are assigned a sport to watch. Students watching the games do not know how the sport is being played, the rules etc. These students buy a bulk of tickets, thus causing the tickets to be ‘Sold-Out’. Shouldn’t the NSA be granted a certain amount to sell to their own sporting body at a discounted price as well? Esp since these ppl would actually KNOW what they are watching?

2) Schools only attend Prelims which is held during the curriculum time. They do not attend the exciting matches which are usually held in the evening, thus leaving the competition venue barren during telecast. It makes SG appear to be non-supportive of their own games.

3) Due to the tickets that schools have bought, they have limited the tickets for sale and prevent people who wish to come down to support the players during the more important matches after they have advanced to the following rounds. People who genuinely want to support the players are not given the chance to do so. So much for sporting nation and cheering on Team Singapore.

For example, during the TKD match on the 16th when Singapore’s Darryl Tan clinched the first bronze medal, there were an influx of
supporters who wish to support him for the silver medal match. However, the tickets were ’sold out’ but it was evident that the venue was empty during the broadcast.

Similarly, during Nurul Shafinas match on the 17th, after she has successfully clinched the bronze medal, many people wanted to support the TKD player but were unable to do so due to the ticket’s being sold out. Only the JCs were present during her exciting match where she almost won the game. Given that they were more local supporters who were there to cheer her on, she may have
possibly succeeded in winning Singapore’s silver medal with a strong crowd behind her.

What I am suggesting is that YOG committee should have looked at these problem. Since they have made schools attend a sport, they should have seen that schools would only be able to attend the games during curriculum time and will leave once its evening. They then should release the seats that these schools have purchased and allow them to be sold to the general public who are able to attend and cheer our local athletes at that particular time. If these schools wish to watch the game, they should report 2 hours before, rather than just disappear, leaving the place with empty seats during LIVE telecast.

Frankly speaking, I was disappointed that my friends and I were not granted tickets especially since I really wanted to support my friend and fellow Singapore athlete during her silver medal match. Her extended family members were equally disappointed. Yet, during broadcast, it was evident that there was a lack of local supporters and a lot of empty seats…So much for ‘Sold-Out’.

JANET YANG

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