I used to think lowly of the Singapore government for importing all the foreign sports players. But now I've become immune to their act. Actually, to put myself in the government's shoes, there seems to be no better way. Even other countries do it. But we are too small. And this whole place is a business hub. You can't change our culture here even in decades.
The prospect of being a sports star here is dismal. How many sports people here made it big in the past? I mean, really big, and earn millions in advertisement endorsement or salary? As far as I can recall, none. Would you rather let your son who is interested and good in soccer to be trained as a soccer player or study hard and be a lawyer?
If possible, I would call Singapore a multi-national company more than a state or country for the commoner. So importing of talents is the fastest way to ensure its success. Just like how they have been importing so many foreigners for jobs here.
But the end result is, I don't feel proud or think we are strong in sports. I don't follow cos looking at the China Chinese faces playing ping-pong wearing the red Singapore shirts make me feel uneasy. I don't know them, and I don't know if they know much about Singapore themselves. Most importantly, I think there is a good chance they will leave this country once their jobs here are done, or conversely, once Singapore feels they are not performing well enough to stay on.
So at best, sports here is political, not based on passion.