# data[].attributes.body
Article 2

Introduction

The launch of the One Team Singapore Fund (OTSF) serves as additional funding for elite sports in Singapore. Hopes are that the matching OTSF grant will prompt corporate sectors and the public to contribute to the success of national athletes. Money will contribute towards high performance in areas like competition opportunities and coaching development.

Correlation
This could be an example of strategic alliance whereby the NSA works together with the government to increase funding for sport organisations in Singapore

Takeaway

The OTSF serves as a form of encouragement to local athletes who train hard and make personal sacrifices to excel in their respective sports. Funding is always a pertinent factor when it comes to wanting to raise the standard of any sport in Singapore.

http://www.straitstimes.com/sport/vision-underpins-new-fund

# data[].attributes.body
Introduction

The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) announced comprehensive changes to the local youth development plans to rejuvenate the ailing national team. The proposed changes will focus on efforts to include more schools to take up football as a co-curricular activity (CCA), differentiation across age groups, and mandating a quota of under-23 players for the S-League’s six local clubs.

Correlation

This could be used as a measure of organisational effectiveness of the FAS in terms of producing results as an organisation.

Takeaway

Focusing on talent development in the youth is crucial in ensuring a strong National Team where players’ life cycles are important factors to a team’s performance. A commitment to young players will help to ensure that the younger players were developing and would meet the standards that the older player had set. The new game format for the younger players will focus on the skill development of the players as an individual and creating a better learning environment.

http://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-fas-unveils-youth-development-plans-to-revive-ailing-local-scene

# data[].attributes.body
Football: How the limping Lions can rediscover their bite

The Singapore national football team are winless for more than a year after yesterday evening's 0-3 defeat by Bahrain in an Asian Cup Goup E qualifier at the National Stadium.

One area that was highlighted was the lack of leadership and discipline among the players.

The lack of discipline was sorely highlighted in a separate news reporting on the mass brawl that happened during the National Football League between the Singapore Armed Forces Sports Association (Safsa) and Yishun Sentek Mariners on Sunday night (Nov 12) at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

Another area to note would be the lack of a clear goal. Is the organisation fielding younger players for exposure so as to secure the long term goal? or is there another goals that FAS is trying to attain? if so, what are the goals?

Takeaway:
For a sport organisation to be effective, there must be a clear goal to work toward to. No goals or mission statement can be found anywhere on the FAS website. This is worrying as if there is no clear goal for the organisation, there are essentially nothing for them to attain, and no way to evaluate their effectiveness.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The Singapore national football team are winless for more than a year after yesterday evening's 0-3 defeat by Bahrain in an Asian Cup Goup E qualifier at the National Stadium.

V Sundram Moorthy's men have now gone 13 'A' matches without tasting victory and the results are a cause of concern for a side that were crowned Asean champions in 2012.

Although recent performances have indicated some improvement, the Lions still lack bite and the killer instinct.

So what has gone wrong and what can the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) and Sundram do to make the Lions a regional force again?

LACK OF LEADERS AND DISCIPLINE

Former national defender Kadir Yahaya, now the coach of the St Joseph's Institution football team, believes the Lions need to police themselves, take ownership of the poor results and perhaps even dish out the hairdryer treatment to wake the under-performing players up from their slumber.

The 49-year-old, who was part of the 1994 Malaysia Cup-winning team, told The Straits Times: "In the past, when the national team lost one game, Fandi (Ahmad, who was the captain then) would storm into the dressing room and show his anger.

FIND THE RIGHT CURE
If the team don't win for such a long period, it's a disease. To cure it, everyone from FAS to the coaching staff should give encouragement to the players.
MIKE WONG, former Singapore assistant coach to Raddy Avramovic.

INTRODUCE REWARDS
There must be a system of rewards for the players if they reach a certain number of caps. For example, if a player has 50 caps, maybe the FAS can rule that he deserves a certain minimum salary.
KADIR YAHAYA, former national defender.

"He would throw water bottles and kick the cupboard. Malek Awab would knock the young players on their heads. That's what losing felt and sounded like. Can you imagine Fandi's anger if Singapore went one whole year without winning?

"The display of rage had a big effect on the Lions. The players would give 100 per cent during training the next day.

"We all feared and respected Fandi and the seniors like Malek. We no longer have players like this. There is no voice in the dressing room."

A former national player, who declined to be named, traces the problem down to the developmental level, warning that ill-disciplined Cubs can fail as Lions in the future.

He said: "It all boils down to fundamentals - there is not enough discipline instilled at the youth level."

Case in point - the Asian Football Confederation Under-18 Championship qualifier collapse to Mongolia last Wednesday.

The Cubs led the hosts 2-0 before frayed tempers saw two of Christophe Chaintreuil's players sent off and Mongolia recovering to win 4-2. A third player was red-carded after the match.

"The FAS and the coaches must enforce discipline and let the boys know that they cannot step beyond some boundaries," the former Lion added.

"When I played for Singapore, senior players walked the talk. They gave the juniors scoldings if they stepped out of line. They reinforced the message that if you misbehave, you are tarnishing the country and the team.

"Sadly, after (ex-Lions coach) Raddy Avramovic left (in 2012), the discipline from the youth to senior levels is not that good."

SQUARE PEGS IN ROUND HOLES

He wears the armband and inherited Fandi's iconic No. 17 jersey. He was named Asean Football Federation's (AFF) Most Valuable Player in 2013 and scored 14 times in 134 international appearances. Only Khairul Amri, with 32 goals, has scored more for Singapore in the current squad.

Although now 33, Shahril Ishak is still an expert at timing his runs into the box to grab goals. His 11 S-League strikes for Warriors FC makes him the joint local leading scorer this season alongside Home United's Faris Ramli. Yet, he continues to be used sparingly as a late substitute by the national team.

Sundram is struggling to find a reliable source of goals - Singapore had scored just 11 in his 21 games in charge. He tried to use Safuwan Baharudin, who excels in central defence, as a striker, hoping the 26-year-old's aerial power can profit from direct balls but it hasn't worked out.

Warriors coach Razif Onn believes Shahril can still do a job for Singapore, saying: "For my team, Shahril has been fantastic from day one with his intelligent combinations with Jordan Webb and now Andrei Ciolacu."

Hougang United coach Philippe Aw added: "Safuwan is a natural choice at the back because he is a rare breed of defender who is strong in the air, quick on the ground and comfortable on the ball.

"If he plays in defence, this will free up Hariss to boss the midfield."

Another of Sundram's left-field selections is Hariss Harun, one of the team's best midfielders, who is used as a centre-back.

Ex-Lions coach P.N. Sivaji, who is currently the technical director of Myanmar National League club Hantharwaddy United, believes the 26-year-old must be played in his best role. He said: "Hariss is someone who can break opponents' attacks with his positional play and strong tackles.

"With the 3-4-3 Sundram has employed, maybe what the team need in midfield now is a Hariss who works tirelessly to intercept, tackle and win the aerial balls. We looked porous in midfield against Lebanon (0-1 loss) when we didn't have the ball."

FOCUS ON RESULTS OR BUILD FOR THE FUTURE?

Age is catching up with many of the Lions with the spine of the team approaching the end of their careers. Goalkeeper Hassan Sunny (33), defender Daniel Bennett (39), midfielder Fahrudin Mustafic (36) and forward Amri (32) are in the current squad. Other veterans previously picked were Shahril (33) and Fazrul Nawaz (32).

Although Hassan and Bennett remain two of Sundram's top performers, they can't play on forever.

"The FAS must be bold enough to decide if it really wants to build the future national team," said the former national player.

"Sundram's job is about getting results with the best players. But will the FAS tell him to focus on rebuilding? The direction has to be clear.

"Our football is seriously in a shambles now and we cannot waste any more time drifting around.

"When Germany lost the World Cup final in 2002, they decided to focus on youth. They boosted their scouting to look for players aged 12-18.

"That helped them to groom a new crop of players to win the 2014 World Cup."

LIONS LACK MOTIVATION

Kadir believes some of the current Lions are not motivated enough to don national colours. To keep them hungry to wear the red shirt, he believes in dangling some carrots.

Kadir said: "We must recognise our football heroes, it is so difficult to earn 100 caps as you need to stay very fit over a long period.

"Players with 100 caps should be granted testimonials and be honoured at the National Stadium.

"Sundram has only a small group of players to pick from. There must be a system of rewards for the players if they reach a certain number of caps. For example, if a player has 50 caps, maybe the FAS can rule that he deserves a certain minimum salary.

"This will encourage players to think that playing for Singapore is a really big thing. Young players will want to emulate the seniors, too."

Mike Wong, a former Singapore assistant coach to Avramovic when the Lions won the 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup, believes the team are short on confidence and perhaps more can be done to encourage the players to get back on their feet again.

Wong, who is now the technical director of Laos, said: "If the team don't win for such a long period, it's a disease. To cure it, everyone from FAS to the coaching staff should give encouragement to the players.

"When the team work on their finishing during training, do not put too much pressure on them to score. Give them positive feedback that they are running into goalscoring positions. That will gradually get their confidence back.

"During the years 2010 to 2011, the national team were in a bad shape. The media was hitting Raddy badly and called for his head. But we worked on the mental aspect of the players.

"We told the players that we are not going to the AFF Cup to make up the numbers. We will use our strengths and just focus on doing our jobs.

"There were no extra training sessions. We left each session happily. In the end, we won the tournament against the odds. Sometimes, it's the simple things that will work."

Sivaji suggested specialised training to polish the players' skills.

He said: "There should be a lot of work done with the existing strikers at all age groups.

"Individual training by positions should be the mantra. Maybe there has been too much emphasis on team training and the requirements of the individual positions have been overlooked."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Football: How the limping Lions can rediscover their bite

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Singapore national football team are winless for more than a year after yesterday evening's 0-3 defeat by Bahrain in an Asian Cup Goup E qualifier at the National Stadium. V Sundram Moorthy's men have now gone 13 'A' matches without tasting victory and the results are a cause of concern for a side that were crowned Asean champions in 2012.

# data[].attributes.body
Oh Poh Huat (1)

Soh Skips Commonwealth Games
The Singapore Athletics (SA) has made news again for taking too long to make an official statement regarding its selection criteria for the upcoming Commonwealth Games that is slated to happen next year.

This has lead to SEA Game Gold medalist Soh Rui Yong to give up attempting to qualify for the event. His explanation is that athletes need time to prepare and plan in order to peak for the event. Other athletes have also expressed their unhappiness over the delay although they will still press ahead to attempt to meet the qualifying criteria.

SA explained that this delay was due to an internal miscommunication.

Takeaway:
This could be a classic example of ineffective organisational structure. SA being a NSA might need to relook into its structure. Is the miscommunication a result of having a overly 'tall' structure? Are there too many levels of control and authority that needs to be clear thus leading to the delay in decision making? In fact, is there a specialised department that is looking after this aspect of the organisation?

SA seem to be organised like a political system where the personnel running it are more interested in their self interest rather than the goals of the organisation.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The delay by Singapore Athletics (SA) in making known a clear track and field selection criteria for next year's Commonwealth Games has led to SEA Games marathon champion Soh Rui Yong deciding not to attempt qualification for the April 4-15 event.

The 26-year-old, who revealed he had made his decision privately last week, explained yesterday that he was "disappointed" that it had taken so long for the selection criteria to be published.

The qualifying window started on April 15 this year and will end on Feb 11 next year, but the period of the window and selection criteria were published on SA's website only at about 5.30pm yesterday.

Soh, who will instead focus on preparing for the World Half Marathon Championships in March, told The Straits Times: "It makes it very difficult for coaches and athletes to develop a proper plan to qualify for and then peak for the Commonwealth Games.

"The lack of training structure and proper periodisation is a large reason why we have always failed to deliver in athletics, and last-minute selection policies like these don't help."

Wishing his team-mates luck in aiming for Commonwealth Games qualification, Soh acknowledged that making the decision had been difficult.

"Representing my country is always an honour. But I no longer wish to entertain such uncertainty, I will focus on competitions that I have control over and will be able to prepare adequately for," he said.

"(There's) no time, it takes months to get ready for a marathon as there are only five months left to qualify, and then race."

SA president Ho Mun Cheong told ST that the delay in making the criteria public was a result of an internal miscommunication.

"Some of the clauses in the criteria took longer to finalise as we needed to clarify that it was phrased clearly," said Ho.

He added that he would respect Soh's decision not to attempt qualification for the Commonwealth Games, saying: "I wish him all the best at the World Half Marathon Championships."

Some national athletes, whom ST spoke to before the selection criteria for the Commonwealth Games was published, admitted they were frustrated that a clear set of criteria had not been made known to them.

ST understands 75 athletes were yesterday informed that their names were on a "long list" of nominations for the Gold Coast Games, based on performances this year.

National sprint hurdler Dipna Lim-Prasad noted that the need for clear selection criteria was something that athletes had been calling for for a long time, and is relieved that they have now been informed.

"We can now have ease of mind as we gear our training towards preparing for the Commonwealth Games now that we have been nominated for the long list," she said.

"While it is comforting as we can better plan, there is only a short window left for the qualifying period which makes things challenging for all athletes and coaches."

National pole vault record holder Rachel Yang met the Commonwealth Games qualifying distance of 3.80m at the Thailand Open in June, where she jumped 3.91m.

Despite having met the mark, the 35-year-old admitted she had been unsure if this was sufficient as she did know know any other selection criteria would be introduced.

"But my fellow athletes and coach were telling me not to worry because I've already met the mark, so my focus is to prepare for the Games," she said.

"I've recovered from injury and I'm already starting to work on the things I didn't have a chance to work on at the SEA Games, so I'm looking forward to it."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The delay by Singapore Athletics (SA) in making known a clear track and field selection criteria for next year's Commonwealth Games has led to SEA Games marathon champion Soh Rui Yong deciding not to attempt qualification for the April 4-15 event.. Read more at straitstimes.com.

# data[].attributes.headline
14 Nov Football: NFL organisation scrutinised as police probe under way

# data[].attributes.subject
14 Nov Football: NFL organisation scrutinised as police probe under way

# data[].attributes.body
A National Football League (NFL) Division 1 game between the Singapore Armed Forces Sports Association (Safsa) and Yishun Sentek Mariners ended in a mass brawl. National Football League clubs took centre stage as the fraternity went to the polls for the first time in the Football Association of Singapore's (FAS) history. promises were made to improve the organising of the league, provide more funding and support, with Lim Kia Tong, then a candidate but now the president, promising to take personal charge of the amateur clubs, which comprised 23 of the FAS' 44 voting members.

Even with the funding and support there are still issues:
1. Pitch-booking issues of the past resulting in the cancellation of games, 2. One team had to resort to borrowing goalkeeping gloves from their opponents
3. An ambulance suppose to be on standby at NFL games,  2 players who suffered head injuries in an match had to wait at least 25 minutes before getting medical attention.

This is an organisation where clubs does not have at least a proper skeletal structure of management, technical and backroom staff. Even the coach kicked an official staff during a brawl. Is this organisation ready or there is no structure to begin with.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Sunday's brawl between Singapore Armed Forces Sports Association (Safsa) and Yishun Sentek Mariners, which the police confirmed yesterday that they are investigating, has cast the spotlight on the lesser lights of Singapore football again.

In April, the National Football League clubs took centre stage as the fraternity went to the polls for the first time in the Football Association of Singapore's (FAS) history.

Then, promises were made to improve the organising of the league, provide more funding and support, with Lim Kia Tong, then a candidate but now the president, promising to take personal charge of the amateur clubs, which comprised 23 of the FAS' 44 voting members.

The NFL is now a two-tier competition with 12 teams in each division and the $3,000 registration fee has been waived for clubs, but it appears that the league is still plagued by many of the same old issues.

While sources in the NFL reveal that pitch-booking issues of the past resulting in the cancellation of games have been resolved in 2017, other problems have persisted.

It is understood that some clubs were late in registering their squads before the start of the season and at least one team did not turn up for a scheduled match. One team had to resort to borrowing goalkeeping gloves from their opponents after both their custodians failed to turn up at a match, a situation that was met with a shrug of the shoulders.

The FAS promised an ambulance on standby at NFL games but two players who suffered head injuries in an NFL 2 match between South Avenue and Gymkhana last Tuesday had to wait at least 25 minutes before getting medical attention.

An FAS spokesman called it an "unfortunate and isolated incident" and said that there would be "stricter enforcement of rules especially for those involving safety".

It is understood that a plan is being mooted to professionalise the NFL and install it as the second tier to the S-League. The FAS spokesman said Lim has met the clubs to speak about plans for the league. He also pointed to stricter rules governing the administration of clubs, saying: "This (conversation) includes introducing licensing requirements for clubs participating in the NFL."

But given the recent incidents, some are questioning if the clubs are ready to make the big leap.

"I'm disgusted by the lack of professionalism in the NFL first division," said an NFL official on condition of anonymity. "There are some teams within the league that do deserve support, but the rest can't even get their administration right.

"They don't handle registration properly, can't show up to games on time, and others still face issues paying fines that were due last season."

However, some cautioned against premature judgments.

"I don't think one should look only at the free-for-all to make a judgment call on whether NFL clubs are ready to make the step up towards professionalism," said former Singapore international R. Sasikumar, founder of sports marketing agency Red Card Global.

"It has to be an educated decision based on data and key performance indicators. For example, do NFL clubs have at least a proper skeletal structure of management, technical and backroom staff?"

Joe Keiser, general manager of NFL 2 side Academy Junior Football, believes it is not all bad news.

"The insurance coverage is good and supports better player welfare. Registration has been streamlined and seems to be working properly, and match scheduling has been smooth; credit to the FAS competitions department," he said.

"The focus on the NFL has made it a vibrant league which can serve as a platform to develop new talent for the national team. But this will be an evolutionary process."

As for the brawl, it is understood that no arrests have been made. Yishun's Zulfadhli Suzliman and Safsa's Al Nazirul Islam were involved with sparking the incident, with the latter sent to hospital to treat stud marks on his abdomen.

Zulfadhli received his marching orders, along with Nazirul after the match resumed following a stoppage of some 15 minutes.

Videos revealed players from Yishun's bench also got involved in the fracas that saw Safsa coach Kevin Wee kicked, with a Yishun official getting involved near the tunnel leading to the dressing rooms.

Sources said the FAS is poised to expedite the disciplinary hearings.

Safsa lead the league on 53 points after 20 games. Yishun, who lost Sunday's game 2-3, are on 51 points but have one game in hand.
Shamir Osman *Additional reporting by David Lee

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Football: NFL organisation scrutinised as police probe under way

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Sunday's brawl between Singapore Armed Forces Sports Association (Safsa) and Yishun Sentek Mariners, which the police confirmed yesterday that they are investigating, has cast the spotlight on the lesser lights of Singapore football again. In April, the National Football League clubs took centre stage as the fraternity went to the polls for the first time in the Football Association of Singapore's (FAS) history.

# data[].attributes.headline
4 Nov 2017 The Straits Times Young Star of the Month: Fightback to realise his dreams

# data[].attributes.subject
4 Nov 2017 The Straits Times Young Star of the Month: Fightback to realise his dreams

# data[].attributes.body
At 30, (male) gymnasts are considered old and most retire at 25 or 26 and he suffer a partial tear in the scaffold ligament, threatened to derail his training and competition plans for the rest of the year, and caused him to consider quitting gymnastics to concentrate on his studies. Lincoln took landed him four golds, one silver and two bronzes at the July Asean Schools Games

I'm just thinking of the structure of the Singapore Sports School where do the decision is being made in terms of education wise.  He mention "I looked at the bigger picture. I can always attain academic achievements at a later date, but I can only do for sport a short time... Even if I don't get anywhere, at least I gave it a shot" Support of coaches, team-mates helped gymnast assess priorities after he suffered a wrist injury. Is the structure design to create just medals and put academic aside. Or it should be a concurrent till closer to a competition where training become priority. Arent they student athletes not full-time sports athlete

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
A split second on the eve of Chinese New Year was all it took for gymnast Lincoln Forest Liqht (pronounced Light) Man to realise something was wrong.

He had fallen off the vault while training and landed on his right wrist - it hurt, as all injuries do, but although there was no sound and nothing seemed to be broken, the 17-year-old knew this was no "little blister or minor injury" that gymnasts are more prone to.

This injury, a partial tear in the scaffold ligament, threatened to derail his training and competition plans for the rest of the year, and caused him to consider quitting gymnastics to concentrate on his studies.

"I had already planned my goals and competitions for the year all the way till September and I'd also been doing a lot of conditioning during the off-season," said the Singapore Sports School student.

"At that point, I was thinking that if I've been training so hard and increasing the difficulty of my routines, only to be injured and possibly unable to compete, why not just focus on my studies, get my IB (the International Baccalaureate) diploma, do my national service and be done with the sport?"

But he wanted to make a sound decision, so it was only after seeking the advice of his teachers and classmates, who were also sportsmen, that he decided to persevere.

He said: "I looked at the bigger picture. I can always attain academic achievements at a later date, but I can only do for sport a short time.

SETTING PRIORITIES
I looked at the bigger picture. I can always attain academic achievements at a later date, but I can only do for sport a short time... Even if I don't get anywhere, at least I gave it a shot.
LINCOLN FOREST LIQHT MAN, on continuing his sporting career.

"At 30, (male) gymnasts are considered old and most retire at 25 or 26. I decided to just push a bit more, make the effort to recover and grow a bit more, and see where I end up.

"Even if I don't get anywhere, at least I gave it a shot."

The shot that Lincoln took landed him four golds, one silver and two bronzes at the July Asean Schools Games, making him Singapore's top performer at the annual event.

The Republic's gymnastics contingent contributed the most gold medals to the host nation's overall tally with a total of nine golds, five silvers and six bronzes.

For his achievement, Lincoln won The Straits Times Young Star of the Month award for school athletes. The award is an extension of ST's Star of the Month and Athlete of the Year awards. Both are backed by F&N's 100Plus.

Said ST sports editor Lee Yulin: "Lincoln's four-gold achievement at the Asean Schools Games is impressive.

"But what is even more notable is the fact that he did not give up on the sport and his dreams even when injury set him back."

Standing 1.8m, Lincoln acknowledges the disadvantages of being a "bigger" gymnast, including greater susceptibility to injuries and lapses in form being more noticeable to judges during competitions.

But two things keep him going: the encouragement from his coaches and team-mates who push him to complete his training sets, and the satisfaction he feels after completing a routine.

He added with a laugh: "I don't want to sound like I'm bragging, but my performances generally look more impressive - when smaller gymnasts fly through the air, they look small. But as my body is long, I look a bit more graceful."

Lincoln still looks back at the split second that almost caused him to give up gymnastics as a key moment of the year. Looking ahead, however, he aims to create memories in the sport that will likely last a lifetime: winning a SEA Games medal, and qualifying for the Olympic Games.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Straits Times Young Star of the Month: Fightback to realise his dreams

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A split second on the eve of Chinese New Year was all it took for gymnast Lincoln Forest Liqht (pronounced Light) Man to realise something was wrong.

# data[].attributes.body
Zhuang Huifen 2

Introduction
The organiser for the 2017 Yolo run apologised for the unpleasant experience participants went through before, during and after the race. The complaints included inaccurate measurement of distance, delay in flag-off time, not enough water point, long waiting time for baggage collection and etc.

Takeway
X-Change Republic was in charge of organising the event, it was really badly organised, and gave runners a very bad experience. Runners need to pay to participate in the run and it was not cheap, $68 for the 21km, $58 for 10km and $48 for 5km. People got up early for the race and a lot of them were aiming to attain their personal best timing. However due to the poor organisation of X-Change Republic, these runners were not able to complete the goal they set to achieve.
X-Change Republic should have planned much much ahead of the event and prepared for all the circumstances that will happened. The organisers knew that the number of runners were much higher as compared to last year, from 9000 to 15000. They should have allocate more resources such as manpower (volunteers) to help out in the event. Issue with the LTA should have been settled long before the race.
From this organisation of Yolo Run, it indicates that X- Change republic lack of experienced planners, more experts/specialists with experience should be engage to organise such events in future.

# data[].attributes.body
Zhuang Huifen 1

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
As 15 of Singapore's best cycling teams prepare to race at the OCBC Cycle Speedway Club Championship on Nov 18, it is also a trip down memory lane for Loh Kheng Wah.

For someone who has seen the local cycling scene evolve since the 1970s when he represented Singapore at the 1973 South-east Asia Peninsular (Seap) Games - the precursor to the SEA Games - the 61-year-old will feel as if he has come full circle when Team West Coast, founded by him last year, compete at the Singapore Sports Hub.

"There were not many (cycling) clubs then but there were a lot of races," recalled Loh, who won three bronze medals in total at the 1973 and 1975 Seap Games.

"It was a very active scene. On average, there would be two races every month. We would compete at places like East Coast, Tuas, Choa Chu Kang and Pandan Reservoir."

Loh, who raced for the Shimano factory team from 1974 to 1980, recalled that a top-of-the-range bicycle four decades ago cost $2,000. Made of steel, it weighed at least 10kg and boasted five-speed gears.

In stark contrast, his 17-year-old son Firoz, a current national cyclist, rides a modern road bicycle that can cost upwards of $10,000, its weight reduced to 7kg thanks to carbon-fibre construction, and equipped with 11-speed gears that help greatly with climbs.

The OCBC Cycle Speedway Club Championship, now into its third edition, is a race that will see teams field four riders to race in pairs over 10 laps, with each pair doing five laps, on a flat 1km course along Stadium Drive.

According to the Singapore Cycling Federation, there are about 40 active clubs today. One of the oldest sides that will be challenging for the Speedway crown, won previously by Joyriders (2015) and Specialized Mavericks (2016), are the Geylang Cycling Team.

Founded in 1967 by bicycle shop owner Ariff Hashim, now 72, the club have about 40 members.

According to Ghaffari Ghazzi, one of the team's riders, teamwork is paramount.

The 21-year-old student said: "The training is very tough, some of us (have even) vomited after sessions but it's good for us.

"The bond created is hard to find and also, most of the riders are from the same age group.

"And our coach Ariff always believes that no cyclist should be left behind. If one of the guys crashes during training, the whole group has to stop and get him to safety."

Another group challenging for honours at the Sports Hub are the 30Forty Cycling Team, who are made up, as their name implies, of about 50 members in their 30-40s living in the Jalan Kayu and Sengkang areas.

Benjamin Tay stands out in the team as he is only 20 years old.

The national serviceman explained: "I have been trying to find a group that I can keep up with and I enjoy cycling with 30Forty as I can better myself."

Team coach Steven Chan, who also coaches the national triathletes in cycling, added: "We are the underdog team and their aspiration is not to recruit the best (competitors) but to groom cyclists from ground zero and bring them up. We are all about inclusiveness and the cyclists' competency doesn't matter."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
As 15 of Singapore's best cycling teams prepare to race at the OCBC Cycle Speedway Club Championship on Nov 18, it is also a trip down memory lane for Loh Kheng Wah.

# data[].attributes.body
Introduction
Cycling has become more popular nowadays, more people are taking up cycling, and different cycling clubs are formed. According to the Singapore Cycling Federation, there are about 40 active clubs today. And races are organised for these active cyclist to take part in, there are about two races every month. people are now more health conscious, together with the support from the government, cycling is getting more popular.
Political Government promoting healthy lifestyle.
Economics Singaporeans are able to afford the higher bicycles prices, and pay for the fee when entering the various competition throughout the year.
Socio-Demographics Singaporeans are more health-conscious, more park connectors for cyclists, various cycling companies (eg Obike, monobike) to provide cycling services. Very handy for Singaporeans to cycle.
Technology New technology for bikes, bicycles nowadays are much lighter, the carbon fibre construction enables the bike to be much lighter as compare to before. The professional bicycles are now equipped with 11 gear instead of 5, to make climbing much easier.

# data[].attributes.body
Context of News
29th SEA Games was held in Kuala Lumpur. While the sports being contested by the SEA countries were supposed to be the focus, there were 3 incidents which stole the limelight.
These incidents were "pressing issues that needed to be fixed" and they definitely put a blip to the experience of the players and organisers.

Incident 1: Indonesia flag printed upside down in the official commemorative book. (Outcome: massive uproar in Indonesia with Malaysia flags being burned in the streets, and Indonesian Hackers hacking into Malaysian websites)

Incident 2: Spectator violence during soccer matches involving Malaysia (home country). Two Myanmar supporters were beaten up, and in another game, the Malaysian supporters were chanting "Singapore Dogs" to purposely rile the Singaporean players and fans.

Incident 3: Food poisoning that affected 16 Malaysian athletes and caused at least one of them to totally miss his event.

Correlation
For the organisers/organising committee of the 29th SEA games, it must have been devastating news to them that their performance in planning and organising the games would be marred by these incidents. The environmental uncertainty is definitely high, due to the high complexity (so many diverse elements that affect the organisation, for example so many game venues and logistics, the different teams and athletes being involved and logistics to house and support them, the supporters of the athletes and their satisfaction as well as behaviour, etc) as well as high rate of change of the elements.

Takeaway
Organising any event is a complex task with lots of environmental factors that need to be considered. While planning, forecasting, departmentalisation, buffering resources as well as continually communicating with each other helps to provide a degree of certainty and confidence to the organisers, there are other ways to look at gaining certainty from externally directed actions. For this case, being more vigilant (tighten up processes) with food vendors to ensure high expectations/ requirements of food preparations are met would be necessary. More security could have been engaged at venues with high emotions and temperaments to reduce possibility of fan violence. And a more thorough auditing/ editorial process (or specialists should be employed if the expertise is lacking within the organisation) should be enforced to ensure that anything that goes to print is accurate and non-offensive to any country or team.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
A few problems to be fixed, but good SEA Games so far, say organisers

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
KUALA LUMPUR Hit by political gaffes as well as transportation and health issues the ongoing 29th SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur have not been smooth sailing for hosts Malaysia.nbspWhile Tunku Imran Tuanku Jaafar president of the SEA Games Federation and the Olympic Council of M

# data[].attributes.body
Introduction

The National Youth Sports Institute (NYSI) organised the Youth Athlete Development Conference recently on 3 November 2017. The Performance Pathways team from the English Institute of Sport shared their success stories with the identification of athletes. The team had run National athlete recruitment campaigns, and assessed over 10,000 athletes. Other recruitment, the Performance Pathways team also conducts detailed athlete profiling.

Dr. Esther Chia, who is the head of the NYSI Head of Talent Identification and Development felt that there are no clear performance pathways for the Singaporean athletes. There are many stakeholders such as the SSI, NSA, Sports School, parents and schools in the Singapore sports ecosystem and every stakeholder has a different understanding of what success is and how to get there.

Takeaway

A strategic alliance should be formed by the various stakeholders in the Singapore sports ecosystem. Every stakeholder plays an important role in the identification and grooming of athletes and every stakeholder has the knowledge and expertise to contribute.

By forming the alliance, the stakeholders could achieve economies of scale (training venues, equipment, coaches). There will be in increase in the opportunity for organizational learning and technological exchanges.

Personally, I agree with Dr. Esther Chia that there are many definitions of success in sports and the stakeholders seem to be working on their own; even if there are some forms of collaboration, the results are not evident.

Singapore’s population is small and there is a limited pool of talented athletes. We will need to work on the athlete profiling systems to better identify and groom the athletes.

Probably we could start with football and eventually roll out the system to the other sports.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
*SCAPE, Friday, November 3, 2017 - At their home Olympics in 2012, Great Britain, with 541 athletes, won 29 gold, and 65 medals in total, to finish third on the medal table. While countries will fade away after a home games, remarkably, the British went to Rio in 2016, and with a smaller contingent of 366 athletes, won 27 gold, and two more medals in total, to finish second.

Working quietly behind the scenes in support of British athletes was the Performance Pathways team from the English Institute of Sport, shared Pathways Education Lead, Ms Alex Stacey, at the Youth Athlete Development Conference. The conference was organised by the National Youth Sports Institute (NYSI).

NYSI is an agency under the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and was set up in Nov 2015 to make a positive impact on the Singapore youth sports ecosystem.

"Since 2007, Pathways team has supported 22 Olympic and Paralympic sports and over 100 World Class coaches. The team ran 13 National athlete recruitment campaigns, and assessed over 10,000 athletes," said Ms Stacey.

"These projects have resulted in over 100 newly identified athletes entering the World Class system with over 600 international appearances made and over 250 international medals won," she added.

Some of the Rio Olympic medallists the Pathways team identified included rowers Helen Glover (Gold), Vicky Thornley (Silver), Karen Bennett (Silver), Matt Gotrel (Gold), and Taekwondo exponent Lutalo Muhammad (Silver). In Rio, athletes that the Pathways team recruited won 16 Paralympic medals.

What exactly do they do? Quite a bit, in fact. From recruiting athletes to profiling athletes to understand what it takes to win, from pathway health checks to communities of practice. The list is far longer.

For example, from May 2015 to March 2016, the Performance Pathway team drove the pathway health checks for 24 summer Olympic sports and 16 summer Paralympic sports. They sat down with performance directors, CEOs, pathway managers, coaches, and sports scientists to benchmark and plan their next course of action.

Dr Esther Chia, NYSI Head of Talent Identification and Development, saw some lessons and questions for Singapore.

"In the various sports performance pathways, does each stakeholder - SSI, NSA, Sports School, parents, schools - know the exact progression of their athletes? Do we have clarity of what the performance pathways of each of our athletes looks like? In our various roles in the Singapore sports ecosystem, what does success look like? Do we have a clear strategy of how to get there?" said Dr Chia.

Dr Chia also highlighted that Ms Stacey emphasised the need to engage parents.

"Managing expectations of parents are important. By helping the parent understand the exact progression of their children within the pathway, this would help us better engage the parents in support of the youth athlete," Dr Chia said.

Similar to Singapore, the British youth athlete also faces the issue of balancing sport with their studies.

Juggling sports and studies has always been one of the most common issues faced by athletes, said Ms Stacey. The British Performance Pathway team will sit down to discuss with athletes on a feasible plan to balance sports and studies.

The British are not resting on their laurels - they aim to have a Specialist Pathway Leader in every targeted sport by 2020.
More photos next page

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
British performance pathway planning - the grind behind the gold

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
At their home Olympics in 2012, Great Britain, with 541 athletes, won 29 gold, and 65 medals in total, to finish third on the medal table. While countries will fade away after a home games, remarkably, the British went to Rio in 2016, and with a smaller contingent of 366 athletes, won 27 gold, and two more medals in total, to finish second.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
*SCAPE, Friday, November 3, 2017 - At their home Olympics in 2012, Great Britain, with 541 athletes, won 29 gold, and 65 medals in total, to finish third on the medal table. While countries will fade away after a home games, remarkably, the British went to Rio in 2016, and with a smaller contingent of 366 athletes, won 27 gold, and two more medals in total, to finish second.

Working quietly behind the scenes in support of British athletes was the Performance Pathways team from the English Institute of Sport, shared Pathways Education Lead, Ms Alex Stacey, at the Youth Athlete Development Conference. The conference was organised by the National Youth Sports Institute (NYSI).

NYSI is an agency under the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and was set up in Nov 2015 to make a positive impact on the Singapore youth sports ecosystem.

"Since 2007, Pathways team has supported 22 Olympic and Paralympic sports and over 100 World Class coaches. The team ran 13 National athlete recruitment campaigns, and assessed over 10,000 athletes," said Ms Stacey.

"These projects have resulted in over 100 newly identified athletes entering the World Class system with over 600 international appearances made and over 250 international medals won," she added.

Some of the Rio Olympic medallists the Pathways team identified included rowers Helen Glover (Gold), Vicky Thornley (Silver), Karen Bennett (Silver), Matt Gotrel (Gold), and Taekwondo exponent Lutalo Muhammad (Silver). In Rio, athletes that the Pathways team recruited won 16 Paralympic medals.

What exactly do they do? Quite a bit, in fact. From recruiting athletes to profiling athletes to understand what it takes to win, from pathway health checks to communities of practice. The list is far longer.

For example, from May 2015 to March 2016, the Performance Pathway team drove the pathway health checks for 24 summer Olympic sports and 16 summer Paralympic sports. They sat down with performance directors, CEOs, pathway managers, coaches, and sports scientists to benchmark and plan their next course of action.

Dr Esther Chia, NYSI Head of Talent Identification and Development, saw some lessons and questions for Singapore.

"In the various sports performance pathways, does each stakeholder - SSI, NSA, Sports School, parents, schools - know the exact progression of their athletes? Do we have clarity of what the performance pathways of each of our athletes looks like? In our various roles in the Singapore sports ecosystem, what does success look like? Do we have a clear strategy of how to get there?" said Dr Chia.

Dr Chia also highlighted that Ms Stacey emphasised the need to engage parents.

"Managing expectations of parents are important. By helping the parent understand the exact progression of their children within the pathway, this would help us better engage the parents in support of the youth athlete," Dr Chia said.

Similar to Singapore, the British youth athlete also faces the issue of balancing sport with their studies.

Juggling sports and studies has always been one of the most common issues faced by athletes, said Ms Stacey. The British Performance Pathway team will sit down to discuss with athletes on a feasible plan to balance sports and studies.

The British are not resting on their laurels - they aim to have a Specialist Pathway Leader in every targeted sport by 2020.
More photos next page

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
British performance pathway planning - the grind behind the gold

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
At their home Olympics in 2012, Great Britain, with 541 athletes, won 29 gold, and 65 medals in total, to finish third on the medal table. While countries will fade away after a home games, remarkably, the British went to Rio in 2016, and with a smaller contingent of 366 athletes, won 27 gold, and two more medals in total, to finish second.

# data[].attributes.headline
Kee, Sufian, Poh Huat and Huifen's group

# data[].attributes.subject
Kee, Sufian, Poh Huat and Huifen's group

# data[].attributes.body
Our SWOT (Internal and External TASK environment) and PEST (General Environment) analysis for ANYTIME FITNESS

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
SWOT and PEST analysis for Anytime Fitness

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
SWOT and PEST analysis for Anytime Fitness

# data[].attributes.headline
Desmond, Jun wei, Steven - PEST Analysis on Under Armour (9/11/17)

# data[].attributes.subject
Desmond, Jun wei, Steven - PEST Analysis on Under Armour (9/11/17)

# data[].attributes.body
Political Factor:
Tax Policy
Trade Control
Overseas Government Regulations
Third party Manufacturer
Donald Trump

Economic Factor:
Chinese labour costs increasing
Growth of performance apparel industry
Increase in cost of raw materials and resources (shipping costs)
Labour costs
Interest rates
Inflation rates
Stock market

Social Factor:
Consumer focus on quality over price
Increase in physically active woman
More people are health conscious
Sports participation in the U.S. is very high
Buying habits
Lifestyle

Technological Factors:
R&D rate and spending
Social media impacts
Rate of technology changes
online shopping/e-commerce

# data[].attributes.body
9 November 2017

# data[].attributes.body
Strengths
- has a strong financial model of revenue derived from broadcast rights fees, sponsorships and donations.
- is a stable, authentic and and credible brand.
- provides athletes welfare packages to enable elite competitors to train and compete.

Weaknesses
- not tough enough on doping.
- scandals and inadequate oversight within some sports like gymnastics and swimming, which negatively impact USOC.

Opportunities
- new technology makes it easier to connect and engage with fans and viewers.
- international sports are growing in popularity and revenue.
- mobile technology now allows viewing sports on the go, making it easier for fans to participate in their favourite sports.

Threats
- Terrorism is very real.
- Corruption within other NOCs could cause US athletes to miss out on medals.
- restriction on sponsorships set by IOC make it difficult for sponsors to fully leverage the value of Olympic partnership.

PEST
Political
President has the final say to boycott a Game, thus preventing athletes from participating (for example 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow.

Economic
- generate a lot of income from public viewing the events.
- The Olympic Partnership (TOP) program provides partners with exclusive worldwide marketing rights to the Summer, Winter and Youth Olympic Games.
- USOC has partnership with 26 official sponsors such as Nike, Oakley and Ralph Lauren.

Socio-demographic
- interest in sporting goods and attire are increasing.
- sporting venues will improve and the public can have better facilities to do sports.

Technological
- mobile technology to broaden viewership.
- IBM provided technological training services for Olympic staff at all competition venues as well as the main press centre.

# data[].attributes.body
Introduction

The Singapore Silat Federation (Persisi) unveiled a four-pillar plan to grow the sport as it works towards its ultimate goal of having a Singaporean compete in pencak silat at the Olympics.

The first pillar is to groom non-Malay athletes for the national team and recruit non-Malay staff in its management to make the sport more inclusive.

The second pillar is to develop a national syllabus and grading system so that there is a standardized training programme nationwide.

The third pillar is to increase participation and eventually to grow the national training squad members.

The forth pillar is to focus on fund-raising efforts to beef up its reserve.

Takeaway

The four-pillar plan was shared by Persisi chief executive officer Shiek Alau’ddin. The four pillars describe the direction of the NSA and communicate to the public what the organization stands for.

The official goal is to grow the sport and have a Singaporean to compete in pencak silat at the Olympics in 2032. This is a long-term goal which will take 15 years from now to achieve. The pillars describe the operative goals and what the organization is trying to do to achieve the official goal.

Mr. Alau’ddin also emphasized on the importance of having the different stakeholders to work together.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The Singapore Silat Federation (Persisi) last night unveiled a four-pillar plan to grow the sport here, as it works towards its ultimate goal of having a Singaporean compete in pencak silat at the Olympics, should the sport get the nod.

Persisi chief executive officer Sheik Alau'ddin shed light on the plan during a sharing session at the OCBC Arena with over 300 parents and young athletes from the local pencak silat community.

The two-time world champion, 51, said he had come up with four key performance indicators (KPIs) that he wants Persisi to meet in the coming years.

First, he wants the national sports association to groom non-Malay athletes for the national team and hire non-Malay staff in its management, in a bid to make the sport more inclusive.

Second, he wants to produce a national syllabus and grading system, so there is a standardised training programme from grassroots to the elite level.

Sheik also said that he aims to increase participation - he wants to increase the number of national training squad members from about 120 to 300 by early next year.

The federation would also sharpen its focus on fund-raising efforts to beef up its reserves.

Said Sheik: "I've been thinking about this for quite a while.

"We have been working very closely with (national sports agency) Sport Singapore and the Singapore Sports Institute, and I feel we have to make a big change to get even better.

"I am confident we can meet the KPIs. For participation, for example, we are likely to have an ActiveSG programme by next year, and we will engage the tertiary institutions and societies like Jamiyah to find talent."

Sheik said that 2018 is an important year for Persisi as there are two major competitions - the Asian Games and the World Pencak Silat Championships - both in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Pencak silat will make its debut at the Asiad next August in the Indonesian capital, where the world championships will be held four months later.

Said Sheik: "For the Asian Games, our target will be two gold medals - one in the tanding (match) category and one in the artistic category.

"We hope to hit more, of course, but the target is a minimum of two golds."

With silat set to mark a milestone at next year's Asian Games, Sheik has already set his sights on a much bigger target - the Olympics.

He said that he has been working with international silat body Persilat and its president Prabowo Subianto, a prominent Indonesian businessman, politician and former Lieutenant-General in the Indonesian army, to realise the dream.

2032 OLYMPICS, THE TARGET

"Realistically, we are looking at the 2032 Olympics," said Sheik.

"In 2025, we have to put in the formal bid for silat's inclusion and Persilat has targeted a budget of US$54 million (S$73m) to make it happen.

"Persilat is serious and has allocated US$6m from the budget, for rebranding."

Last night, Persisi invited parents and young athletes from the local silat community to a sharing session at its training base at OCBC Arena Hall 4, to talk about the association and its future plans.

Said Persisi president Mohd Yasrin Mohd Yasil: "The reason that we are all here is because we want to develop a close relationship among Persisi, athletes, and parents."

One such parent, Muhammad Razak, 41, was heartened by what he learnt last night.

The former silat exponent, who was in the national squad from 1993 to 1997, has two sons, Muhammad Rizqan, 19, and Muhammad Rizuan, 14, who both recently joined the national age-group training squads.

Said Razak: "This meeting is really good for parents to learn more about what is going on.

"The training facilities and support team are really impressive, and I would say it is complete. Things were much different in the past - we used to train on bare concrete."

Persisi will hold an open selection for next year's major Games - which include the World Junior Pencak Silat Championships - on Dec 9 and its annual registration will be on Jan 6, both at the OCBC Arena.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Singapore Silat Federation (Persisi) last night unveiled a four-pillar plan to grow the sport here, as it works towards its ultimate goal of having a Singaporean compete in pencak silat at the Olympics, should the sport get the nod. Persisi chief executive officer Sheik...

# data[].attributes.headline
Lizda Riyana: Article 2 -  National track and field atheles in limbo over payments (12 October 2017 )

# data[].attributes.subject
Lizda Riyana: Article 2 -  National track and field atheles in limbo over payments (12 October 2017 )

# data[].attributes.body
Background
Athletes's performances are benchmarked so that they can be classified in the NSA's carding system, which provides allowances for athletes and coaches to offset training costs and sustain themselves. Monies are usually disbursed monthly but upon receiving payment for the months of July, August and September, they were also informed that it will cease until further notice. It has never happened before, according to one of the athlete. According to the president of SA, he only came to know about this lapse just as when he received feedback from the athletes and coaches. However, he claimed that the carding system will not be ceased although the terms will be revised and he will expedite the revised system.

Takeaway
NSA should be held accountable for the things that happened under their purview. I am surprised that as President, he is not aware that the carding system as ceased or lapsed. Something should be done in the interim period while they sort out the new terms and conditions.
P

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
National track and field athletes were left confused and in limbo on Tuesday, after they were told that Singapore Athletics' (SA) internal carding system has ceased until further notice.

The national sports association's scheme classifies its athletes according to their performances against certain benchmarks, including the SEA Games, and awards both the athlete and his or her coach with cash payments to offset training costs.

According to the SA website, a 2015 SEA Games gold medallist gets $1,200 a month, while the coach receives $700 monthly under its 2017 carding system.

The money is disbursed quarterly. The coaches and athletes received their July, August and September payouts this week, when they were also informed of the stoppage in the system.

National hurdler Dipna Lim-Prasad said: "I was told by the SDP (Sports Development and Performance) team yesterday that SA carding would cease until further notice."

National sprinter Shanti Pereira added: "I was definitely surprised to hear that SA carding has ceased. It has never happened to me before.

"Right now, there are a lot of questions in my head but hopefully they will get answered soon."

There are a lot of questions in my head but hopefully they will get answered soon. National sprinter Shanti Pereira

National athletes use the money for nutrition, transport, and training equipment, among other things.

Lim-Prasad, 26, said: "Athletes such as myself are full-timers, so the loss of funds from the SA carding is significant because we are also not under the spexScholarship or any other campaign support scheme at the moment.

WORK PART-TIME

"I will continue to look for sponsors to cover that amount or may have to find a part-time or ad-hoc job, as I have done in the past.

"But cash sponsors are also hard to come by in Singapore, and having a part-time job would not be ideal because it eats into my rest and training times, therefore affecting my training load."

The government's spexScholarship provides selected national athletes with monthly stipends and increased sports science and medicine support, in their bid to excel at regional, Asian, world and Olympic levels.

Pereira is the only track and field athlete who is on this scholarship.

Contacted, SA president Ho Mun Cheong assured that the SA carding system will continue, although the terms may be revised.

He explained that the current carding system expired at the end of last month, and he will "expedite" the revised system.

"We will never stop the carding money (system). How can we stop it?" said Ho, who received feedback from athletes and coaches about the cessation.

"It is part of (national sports agency) SportSG's funding to SA and meant for the carding system."

Asked why the current carding scheme was allowed to lapse without a new one in place, he said: "I only came to know about this... I checked with the secretariat straightaway... and they told me after September, we needed to revise (the carding system)."

He added that it is up to SA's training and selection committee to send a proposal for the revised scheme to the management committee (MC) for approval, and the decision can be made without convening an MC meeting.

Ho is confident that the matter will be resolved before the next tranche of payment in December or January.

He said: "No need (to wait till) December, now that I am aware of this, I will try to expedite it.

"I will try not to affect the coaches or athletes because they need this money for training. How can we stop this?"

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
National track and field athletes in limbo over payments

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
National track and field athletes were left confused and in limbo on Tuesday, after they were told that Singapore Athletics' (SA) internal carding system has ceased until further notice. The national sports association's scheme classifies its athletes according to their...

# data[].attributes.headline
Lizda Riyana: Article 1 - Tax Reform takes aim at college sports (3 November 2017)

# data[].attributes.subject
Lizda Riyana: Article 1 - Tax Reform takes aim at college sports (3 November 2017)

# data[].attributes.body
Background
The current law (in United States) grant an 80% deduction on every dollar donated to a university for the right to purchase season tickets to school's home basketball and football games. However, this provision will be repealed under the new tax reform by the Republicans. Meaning, it will cost every services required to maintain college sports 20% more.
This is one of the government efforts to prevent tax-exempt for millionaire athletes and billionaire owners.

Impact
This new tax reform will change and impede donations to university athletic programmes, taking away an array of resources such as financing salaries of coaches, athletic programmes for non-revenue generating ones, student scholarships, building and maintaining sports facilities and its resources. This tax reform would also mean that schools will bear the high cost of college sports. For example a head of basketball in college would cost USD7 million annually but with the tax exercise of 20%, it would cost them USD1.5million more.

Takeaway
The above is a great example of how government and sports interlinked with each other. Making it appear to be like 'organisations as organisms as well as political system'.  As organisms because colleges or universities rely on the external environment of sponsorship and donations to drive their programmes but political as well because in doing so, they get tax exempts, especially for the rich owners. It was a win-win situation.
Tax exempts aid to the rise of pro sports, providing them with headway to progress, also creating numerous jobs for the community and financing truly talented athletes (scholarships). However on the hindsight, it also makes the rich (owners of multi-million dollar facilities and clubs) richer. It is awlays a double edged sword, when it come to sports. However, based on how much NFL or NBA generate in revenues per year, it may be able to absorb this impact but for how long? In US, the sports setup is complex, where colleges compete with each other for pro placements of their student athletes, making it sometimes enviable esp from a country that barely provide any financial support to its athletes. This tax reform would means that universities have to work harder to finance their sporting programmes.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
CLOSE

The proposed tax plan unveiled Thursday by Republicans in the House of Representatives could have a variety of sports-related impacts, including how pro and college sports facilities are financed, the ability of college athletics departments to raise money and schools' cost for employing highly compensated coaches and athletics administrators.

At least two provisions specifically target the professional or college sports industries. Others have broader aims, but would cover sports just the same.

The provisions taking direct aim at sports involve the elimination of tax-exempt financing of pro sports facilities and a repeal of the tax deduction that can be taken for donations to college athletics departments that are made for the right to purchase tickets for sports events.

More: Jerry Jones, Robert Kraft, Bob McNair to be deposed in Kaepernick collusion grievance

More: Bills' Richie Incognito rips NFL for 'ridiculous' Thursday night games

The general sports world would be affected by an end to the deduction that companies can take for a portion of their spending on entertainment - such as attending a game - as long as it is associated with, or directly preceded or followed by, "a substantial and bona fide" discussion related to company business. This deduction has helped business write off part of the cost of luxury suites and season tickets.

Colleges would be affected by changes that would impact a variety of tax-exempt non-profit organizations. Private-activity bonds, a form of financing that colleges use for construction projects including athletic facilities, would no longer be tax exempt. Also, tax-exempt organizations would be subject to a 20% tax on compensation in excess of $1 million that's paid to any of their five most highly compensated employees; that would cover scores of college coaches and athletics directors.

It remains to be seen whether all, or any, of these proposals will appear in an expected Senate tax proposal or will survive mark-up and/or a conference committee.

College football coaches compensation: Database of how much they make

But given that Republicans' interest in tax reform appeared to have become primarily an interest in tax cuts, the bill unveiled Thursday "picked up a lot of tax reform proposals ... and (could change) a lot of bad tax rules," said Duke University law professor Richard Schmalbeck, who has been a longstanding critic of the so-called 80 Percent Rule pertaining to college-sports donations that provide seat-purchase privileges.

The end of tax-exempt financing of pro sports facilities - defined by the bill as a facility during at least five days a year as a stadium or arena for exhibitions, games or training - won't keep cities from paying for them. But they potentially would have to pay an increased cost.

Because the NFL makes so much money, it won't have as much of an impact on that league as it would on minor leagues and Major League Soccer, which make far less money. "The NFL is in a better position to absorb the impact," said Marc Ganis, a sports consultant in Chicago who has worked with NFL owners.

The elimination of this tax break is estimated to raise federal tax revenues by $200 million over 2018-2027, according to an official estimate for Congress. Ganis said that amount is insignificant to the government budget and suspects the legislation is designed to punish or stop this sort of financing for other reasons.

"This is not a revenue-enhancement issue," he said. "This is because some people think it is simply wrong for millionaire athletes and billionaire owners to benefit from tax-exempt financing. That's why this is happening. It has nothing to do with raising revenue. The amount they have identified is so small that it is almost invisible."

Ganis said this legislation wouldn't be applicable to the new $2.6 billion stadium being built in Los Angeles for the NFL's Rams and Chargers. That stadium is being financed privately. In Las Vegas, a new stadium for the Oakland Raiders is being planned that will cost nearly $2 billion, including $750 million in public funding.

The project planned to use tax-exempt bonds to help finance it, but it's unclear just how much this legislation would alter its financing plan. No tax-exempt bonds have been issued yet for this project.

If the proposal passes, Ganis said team owners will have to contribute more to stadium projects or build smaller stadiums. Or they will have to find another revenue source to bridge the gap.

The change in the 80 Percent Rule for college sports donations had been proposed during the Obama administration, and Schmalbeck says he'd been approached by Obama-era Treasury Department officials seeking guidance on the matter.

The allowance is "completely indefensible," Schmalbeck said. "There's no good tax policy reason for it." Since the deduction results in the provision of a benefit, Schmalbeck argues that under this reasoning, parents should be allowed to take a similar deduction for making tuition payments.

College officials, of course, see it otherwise.

During a conference call hosted by the National Association of College and University Business Officers, the organization's director federal affairs, Liz Clark, said an end to the 80 Percent Rule could result in "a significant loss of revenue" to athletics programs. Vanderbilt vice chancellor for finance Brett Sweet said he hopes that if the rule is repealed, donors' interest in supporting athletes will supersede the loss of the tax benefit.

Schmalbeck said the imposition of a tax on schools in connection with highly paid personnel would "inhibit or slightly reduce - maybe" the compensation given to coaches and administrators, "but not a lot."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Republican tax bill takes aims at college athletics, stadium financing

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
CLOSE The proposed tax plan unveiled Thursday by Republicans in the House of Representatives could have a variety of sports-related impacts, including how pro and college sports facilities are financed, the ability of college athletics departments to raise money and schools' cost for employing highly compensated coaches and athletics administrators.

# data[].attributes.body
Chpt 6 Resource 1 - Questions

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Do you remember 'anything' and 'whatever'? They made waves in the advertising world when the company, aptly named 'Out of the Box' rolled out two drinks called the 'Anything' and 'Whatever'.

When asked about how the idea came about, they said that they got the idea from everyday conversations. Apparently, when they ask their friends about what they would want to drink, their friends usually give non-committal answers, "anything lor" or "whatever lah".

'Anything' is a carbonated drink that comes in different flavours (Cola with lemon, Apple etc) and 'Whatever' is a non-carbonated drink (Ice Lemon Tea, Chrysanthemum etc). Their advertising campaign was equally creative but they had to pull out a marketing project halfway through.

They had placed empty cans of 'whatever' and 'anything' at the bus stops but due to vandalism (people with itchy fingers stealing cans or opening the cans) and the worry of mosquito breeding (opened cans can collect water, which are prime breeding grounds for mosquitoes), they had to stop this particular project.

However, it remains to be seen if this particular marketing project is a failure since although it was costly. According to Today, the man behind the idea was not even sure if it was a failure since their first-month sales figures actually outstrip their initial sales goal (they managed a sale of 3.5 million cans of drinks, far surpassing their initial goal of 2 million can of drinks sold). Below is a video of one of their advertisement:

It was known that the drinks were no longer sold in 2010 and their official website was closed down in 2012. So what happened to this company who had practically made waves with their branding and strategic positioning?

One speculation was that the novelty of the idea wore off and the company could no longer sustain the sales of the drink. Another speculation made was that the drinks were watered down version of the original flavours (E.g. Cola with lemon not as good as the real lemon flavoured coca cola drink) and thus after the originality of the idea dies down, everyone prefers the original version.

One last interesting speculation came from our FaceBook page back when a photo of these drinks was posted. According to the commenter, the drinks were not a fail. He said that young start-up was threatening to take the market share of a beverage giant and thus, the owners were offered a generous amount of money to close down their operations.

So which is true, which is false? What do you think?
Always bored during your commute to and fro work or school? Here's the best solution: download our app for new articles, Facebook videos and YouTube videos that are updated daily...and most importantly, exclusive contents that are only available in our app! It's your perfect companion for your daily commute! This article was first published on Goodyfeed.com

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
So, what really happened to 'Anything' and 'Whatever'

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Do you remember 'anything' and 'whatever'? They made waves in the advertising world when the company, aptly named 'Out of the Box' rolled out two drinks called the 'Anything' and 'Whatever'. When asked about how the idea came about, they said that they got the idea from everyday conversations.

# data[].attributes.headline
Merger between WiggleCRC and Bike24 in Germany 

# data[].attributes.subject
Merger between WiggleCRC and Bike24 in Germany 

# data[].attributes.body
http://www.multisportresearch.com/blog/wigglecrc-confirms-acquisition-of-retail-specialist-bike24-in-germany/The purpose is to create a stronger pan-European Group, with increased scale and strengthened local sourcing and distribution networks. By merging with Bike24 which has relationships with leading brands it will benefit the WiggleCRC business through an acceleration in its own product and range expansion.
To create a global ecommerce champion in the growing cycling and tri-sports markets. The combined business will have pro forma revenues of circa £500m and a more diversified income stream, with international sales increasing from 52% of group currently, to circa 60%.

# data[].attributes.headline
Keefe & Russell Group Discussion on Joint Venture 2

# data[].attributes.subject
Keefe & Russell Group Discussion on Joint Venture 2

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Close to $50 billion in revenue last quarter. 13 million iPhones sold in a weekend. So how does Apple CEO Tim Cook feel about his company's record-breaking success?

"We haven't started yet," Cook said. The Apple CEO sat down for a fireside chat with Box CEO Aaron Levie at the BoxWorks conference in San Francisco on Tuesday morning. A more contextual interpretation of that statement could be that Apple hasn't really started in enterprise, but that's certainly what's coming next for the Cupertino-based tech company.

"We've always been about making tools," Cook continued. "For a while, we were bifurcated between consumer and enterprise. But now, you don't say you want an enterprise smartphone, just like you wouldn't say you want an enterprise car or an enterprise pen."

Cook admitted that Apple can't go into the enterprise market alone, and that partnerships with enterprise software companies were pivotal. The CEO mentioned Apple's recent partnerships with IBM, Cisco, Microsoft and Box as ways to tap into the "deep vertical knowledge" and expertise required to make business-specific apps for different industries.

"Apple and Microsoft still compete, but we can partner on more things than we compete on. And that's what customers want."

"If you think back in time, Apple and IBM were foes," Cook said. "Apple and Microsoft still compete, but we can partner on more things than we compete on. And that's what customers want. [Apple users] love Office, and they want it to work on Mac better than it works on Windows, and it should."

During Apple's last event on September 9, Microsoft presented new Office features for the just-announced iPad Pro.

"I'm not a believer of holding grudges," Cook continued. "Having as many friends as you can, you can deliver much better solutions, and that's what the enterprise wants us to do. Companies want to partner with other companies that are part of an ecosystem, not on an island by themselves. The island days are gone."

Cook also noted that today customers are "inherently blending" their personal and work lives together, and that's why features like Handoff and Continuity were implemented to work seamlessly between Macs, iPhones, iPads and even now the Apple Watch. But this blending of work streams between devices doesn't mean that Apple will start blending iOS and OS X.

"We have no intention of blending operating systems," Cook said, adding that to do so would subtract from both.

"Companies want to partner with other companies that are part of an ecosystem, not on an island by themselves. The island days are gone."

When Levie asked the Apple CEO why the enterprise market would veer towards using iOS over Android, Cook said point-blank, "Because you want to pick the best product."

Cook said iOS devices were built with security in mind and are not as fragmented as Android, so it's easier to get everyone running the same operating system.

Cook also mentioned that Apple's new iPhone Upgrade Plan was off to an "incredible start," but would have to wait until the company's earnings report next month to disclose the exact figures.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Tim Cook on Apple and Microsoft partnership: 'It's what customers want'

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Close to $50 billion in revenue last quarter. 13 million iPhones sold in a weekend. So how does Apple CEO Tim Cook feel about his company's record-breaking success? "We haven't started yet," Cook said. The Apple CEO sat down for a fireside chat with Box CEO Aaron Levie at the BoxWorks conference in San Francisco on Tuesday morning.

# data[].attributes.body
Adelaide Crows First Australian Mainstream Pro Sports Organization To Acquire Esports Team

Professional sports teams owning an esports group has made its way to Australia as the Adelaide Football Club acquired Sydney-based Legacy eSports

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Professional sports teams owning an esports group has made its way to Australia as the Adelaide Football Club acquired Sydney-based Legacy eSports, it was announced Wednesday. AFC is the country's first mainstream professional sports team to enter the emerging space in such fashion.

According to Crows Chief Executive Officer Andrew Fagan, esports allows the club to reach a new segment of fans and further broaden the AFC brand.

"It is hugely popular with millennials and there are enhanced opportunities for current and new corporate partners to engage with younger, digital and social media savvy audiences," Fagan said in a statement.

"In many ways, eSports represents the intersection of technology, media and entertainment, which are all a key part of our strategic focus. Across the globe there are sporting clubs, billionaire investors and athletes becoming involved in eSports with a view to growing their brand and reach, driving commercial outcomes and engaging with new fans. League of Legends eSports was the most obvious choice for our Club to get involved in, as it is one of the most developed eSports leagues in the region. We will bring our expertise in elite and professional sport to support the high performance development of the Legacy players who are driven to achieve success in their field."
Get The Latest Esports Tech News In Your Inbox!
Legacy currently competes in the League of Legends Oceanic Pro League and participates across other titles such as Counter-Striker: Global Offensive, SMITE and Rocket League.

The Legacy acquisition follows the Australian Football League saying earlier this month that it wants to enter the esports industry and have member clubs either create teams themselves or sponsor ones. Additionally, there's potential plans for the league to host an esports tournament later this year at Etihad Stadium, which is now owned by the AFL.

"eSports events sell out," Darren Birch, the AFL's growth, digital and audiences general manager told Fairfax Media two weeks ago. "They are amazing live events. There are more screens, more activities going on, more lights, more LED displays. Some of the tournaments I have seen show that eSports is more concert-like than sport-like, but that's what appeals to that younger audience. All of these things make the experience bigger and bolder than your average sport."

Adelaide Football Club joins a growing worldwide list of professional sports teams acquiring, investing in or strategically partnering with esports organizations. In the past year, teams in the U.S. like the Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat have entered the esports arena while overseas soccer clubs in France, for example, have created their own team. A professional hockey team in Helsinki, Finland launched an esports team late last year as well.

Even with all of the interest in esports, though, there have been those clubs such as the San Francisco 49ers who have publicly stayed on the sidelines for now as it pertains to team ownership.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Adelaide Crows First Australian Mainstream Pro Sports Organization To Acquire Esports Team

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Professional sports teams owning an esports group has made its way to Australia as the Adelaide Football Club acquired Sydney-based Legacy eSports, it was announced Wednesday. AFC is the country's first mainstream professional sports team to enter the emerging space in such fashion.

# data[].attributes.headline
Merger between International Skateboarding Federation and International Roller Sports Federation

# data[].attributes.subject
Merger between International Skateboarding Federation and International Roller Sports Federation

# data[].attributes.body
(Horizontal Integration)
http://www.boardsportsource.com/2017/06/19/firs-isf-merge-create-world-skate/
Aims:
1) to provide a more  standardized platform for the management of all skate disciplines
2)  to seize the Olympic opportunity to properly maximise the development of skateboarding around the globe
3)  to involve the associations that represent the whole of skateboarding culture including top athletes, event organizers, community organisations to ensure the proper representation of skateboarding

# data[].attributes.headline
Internal Growth - Adidas (Aaron, Liz, Liza & Kien Mau)

# data[].attributes.subject
Internal Growth - Adidas (Aaron, Liz, Liza & Kien Mau)

# data[].attributes.body
Adidas focus on the sporting products, accesories and streetwear.

1. Adidas NEO
2. Adidas Orginals
3. Adidas Athletics
4. Couture Sports (Stella McCartney)
5. Mi Coach

Shimano
- Cycling
- Fishing

Nike
- Converse
- Hurley (surf brand)
- Watch (Nike Plus)
- Nike Training Apps
- Couture Sports

# data[].attributes.headline
Keefe & Russell Group Discussion on Joint Venture 1

# data[].attributes.subject
Keefe & Russell Group Discussion on Joint Venture 1

# data[].attributes.body
FHI and TMC first agreed on business collaboration in Oct. 2005. After the companies expanded their cooperative ties with new agreements related to development and production in April 2008, they then began four years of development. The completion of this joint-development product also marks a great achievement of the alliance between FHI and TMC.

# data[].attributes.body
Oh Poh Huat
Zhuang Huifen
Sufian Ahmad
Wang Kee Leong

Sports direct is buying up finish line shares in a bid to takeover the company.
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/sports-direct-is-likely-planning-to-take-over-finish-line-analysts-say-2017-09-29

Liverpool takeover.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/liverpool/8057392/Liverpool-takeover-RBS-attempts-to-force-sale-against-Tom-Hicks-and-George-Gilletts-wishes.html

# data[].attributes.body
This sounds fun, an international mixed-gender ball game and a tool to tackle sexism in sports! How cool is that?

"From a massive gender pay gap across many disciplines, to smaller female audiences watching televised sports, to girls dropping out of physical education in school - there are many problems when it comes to getting women into sport."

BBC 100 women is tasking  a group of women to try and close the gap and level the equality of women in sports. The article mentioned that Korfball could be one of the answers. The international Korfball federation is looking at trying to push the sport to compete with mainstream sports like soccer and cricket (which are very male-dominated).

Correlation
Koh-Tan's (2011)  The determinants of effectiveness of sporting associations in Singapore, and Frisby's (2014) Measuring the organisational effectiveness of national sport governing bodies. could be used as a guide to increase the effectiveness of the sport of Korfball (e.g. through participation, performance etc), locally within each countries' governing body and internationally as a sport for the international federation of Korfball.

Takeaway
As much as the factors of measures of effectiveness are able to qualify and quantify as a guide to effectiveness of the sport and its governing body, it is really challenging to implement and systems (from government to players) must support the change.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
It's a typical school scene - teams of children in red, green and yellow bibs playing competitive sport.

But there's one striking difference - the sport they're playing at Instituto Geremario Dantas in Rio de Janeiro is one where teams are made up of both boys and girls.

Korfball, invented at the beginning of the 20th century, is described as the only true mixed-gender ball game.

The rules of the game mean the children in this school sports hall in Brazil are encouraged to play together.

"I really like it because you can play with boys and girls," says 11-year-old Giovanni. "It's a sport that allows everyone to play - boys, girls and people with different abilities.

"We're all different and we're good at different things but in this game we can all play."

All this week, BBC 100 Women is looking at ways to tackle sexism in sport.

From a massive gender pay gap across many disciplines, to smaller female audiences watching televised sports, to girls dropping out of physical education in school - there are many problems when it comes to getting women into sport.

But we're challenging a group of women to come up with ways of tackling this issue. Is korfball one of the answers?

"Korfball breaks the stereotype that boys and girls can't play together, and that women are the weaker sex," says Sheila Duarte, teacher at Instituto Geremario Dantas.

"It shows that girls can play ball games and intense sports well too."

John, 12, says he "loves" korfball. Why? "It's a game that has a lot of movement and you can play with girls," he says.

Your ideas to tackle inequality in sport

Reality Check: Do the Olympics have a gender gap?

How to play Korfball in the UK

The game can be played indoors or outdoors on a court and the aim is to throw the ball through the goal, or "korf", a plastic basket on a pole 3.5m above the ground.

The Netherlands are the dominant team on the world stage, but the game is increasing in popularity around the world.

Korfball - How to play

Each team is made up of four male and four female players. The playing field is divided into two equal zones and two players of each sex are placed in each zone

They cannot move into the other zone during the match but every time two goals are scored, the players swap zones and therefore roles ("attackers" become "defenders" and vice-versa)

The sport has similarities to both netball and basketball. Players score by throwing the ball through the goal ("korf") of the opposite team

If you have the ball, you can only move one foot and can pivot on the other. You cannot dribble or run with the ball, and deliberate physical contact is prohibited

Goals can only be scored if a player gets away from a defender

Whichever team scores the most goals wins

Sources: International Korfball Federation; rulesofsport.com
Mini-korf is a scaled down version of korfball, suitable for small children, often played on the beach, while korflite is designed for players to bring friends who have never played before.

There are also versions of the game accessible for people with disabilities.
Follow live: 100 Women tackles sexism in Rio
But while the rules of korfball make it perfect for integrating boys and girls, in terms of popularity in schools, let alone as a spectator sport, it's still dwarfed by traditional sports such as football, tennis, cricket and basketball.

These are the sports that attract huge audiences, massive sponsorship deals and worldwide celebrity.

What is 100 Women?

BBC 100 Women names 100 influential and inspirational women around the world every year. In 2017, we're challenging them to tackle four of the biggest problems facing women today - the glass ceiling, female illiteracy, harassment in public spaces and sexism in sport.

With your help, they'll be coming up with real-life solutions and we want you to get involved with your ideas. Find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and use #100Women

"I cannot think of any other industry that has such a wage gap, really," says Beatrice Frey, sport partnership manager at UN Women. "Depending on country context and sport, a man can be billionaire, and a woman [in the same discipline] cannot even get a minimum salary."

Amongst the top 100 highest-earning athletes there is just one woman - tennis ace Serena Wiliams.

And while korfball is popular with the children in this Rio school, there are limited opportunities to turn it into a career, even for the best players.

"It's just two hours of sport," says Beatriz Vaz, a professional football player and a member of the 100 Women team looking at the issue of sexism in sport.

For her, the problem is much more deep-rooted. Systems, not just school sports, must change.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Korfball: The game to tackle sexism in sport?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
It's a typical school scene - teams of children in red, green and yellow bibs playing competitive sport. But there's one striking difference - the sport they're playing at Instituto Geremario Dantas in Rio de Janeiro is one where teams are made up of both boys and girls.

# data[].attributes.headline
Something about consolidation of power in the news again. Anyone can help me recall which part of Dr Leng’s lecture did he cover this? Can’t find in the slides. - Keefe

# data[].attributes.subject
Something about consolidation of power in the news again. Anyone can help me recall which part of Dr Leng’s lecture did he cover this? Can’t find in the slides. - Keefe

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
BEIJING - China's Communist Party on Wednesday (Oct 25) unveiled a new lineup for its Politburo Standing Committee (PSC). Here are the new faces, arranged in order of their ranks on the party hierarchy, on China's top governing body.

Li Zhanshu, 67

Mr Li is ranked No. 3 in the Chinese leadership hierarchy, after President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang.

As director of the Central Committee's General Office, he is Mr Xi's chief of staff. The General Office is a powerful agency that oversees the itineraries of all top leaders.

A Xi loyalist with no strong ties to the President's predecessors, he is often seen at the side of Mr Xi on domestic and foreign trips. He has also become the leader's personal liaison to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

He is set to be Mr Xi's strongest ally after the congress particularly if anti-graft czar Wang Qishan steps down. His friendship with Mr Xi goes back to the 1980s when both men headed neighbouring counties in Hebei province.

Wang Yang, 62

Now a vice-premier, he is aligned with Premier Li and former president Hu Jintao through his ties with the Communist Youth League. Seen as a significant figure familiar with foreign policies, he headed the Chinese delegation at the first US-China Comprehensive Economic Dialogue in July.

He was party chief of Chongqing municipality and Guangdong province, acquitting himself well in those roles. Wang Yang rose to prominence before the 18th party congress in 2012 as a leading voice in an unusually public debate about China's economy. He supported a relatively liberal package of policies - called the "Guangdong model," for the southern industrial province he ran at the time - that allowed a greater role for non-profits and trade unions.

He even made Time Magazine's most-influential list after bringing pro-democracy protests in the fishing village of Wukan to a peaceful resolution.

Wang Huning, 61

The director of the Policy Research Office, a think tank of the Central Committee, has been the key adviser to former presidents Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao and now Mr Xi.

The former dean of Fudan University Law School helped draft then president Jiang's "Three Represents," which drew entrepreneurs, capitalists and intellectuals under the party's umbrella. He is also the architect of President Xi's China Dream ideological campaign. As an academic, he studied power transitions and legal systems and advocated the strengths of strong central leadership over fractious democratic systems.

His promotion to the PSC is read as a sign that Mr Xi sees the need to have someone in the top leadership who can provide theoretical guidance for deepening of reforms including political reform.

Zhao Leji, 60

The director of the influential Organisation Department of the Communist Party is in charge of personnel appointments. He had no strong factional ties when appointed to the Politburo in 2012 but hails from Mr Xi's home province of Shaanxi and was its party secretary in 2007-2012.

Mr Zhao spent almost three decades climbing the ranks in Qinghai, one of the poorest regions in China that is also at the crossroads of some of the country's largest ethnic groups. He eventually become the country's youngest provincial leader, overseeing the doubling of Qinghai's economy.

After a stint running nearby Shaanxi province, he was catapulted to the Organization Department which holds sway over appointments to senior patronage jobs across the country, from provinces to central party agencies. That made him instrumental in President Xi's efforts to position allies ahead of the current reshuffle.

He is now seen as one of Mr Xi's close confidants and part of the rising Shaanxi clique of leaders from the north-western province, on whom Mr Xi appears to rely.

He was elected on Wednesday head of China's anti-graft commission, the party's Central Committee for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), taking over from Xi's close ally Wang Qishan.

Han Zheng, 63

Now Shanghai party secretary, he was mayor of Shanghai when his path crossed that of Mr Xi in 2007, when the latter was the financial hub's party boss for several months.

He has been described as a confidant of Mr Xi and affiliated with the now much-diminished Shanghai clique of former president Jiang Zemin.

Mr Han's ascension to the Standing Committee is all the more remarkable after the shocking 2006 downfall of his then boss Chen Liangyu amid bribery charges and clashes with party central.

As mayor, Mr Han led a US$44 billion infrastructure makeover for the 2010 Shanghai Expo. He has faced challenges since taking over as Shanghai party chief in 2012, from runaway property prices to lackluster interest in a new free-trade zone to a New Year's stampede that killed 36.

SOURCES: THE STRAITS TIMES, BLOOMBERG, BROOKINGS INSTITUTE

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
China's new leadership: Who are the new faces on Communist Party's Politburo Standing Committee

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
BEIJING - China's Communist Party on Wednesday (Oct 25) unveiled a new lineup for its Politburo Standing Committee (PSC). Here are the new faces, arranged in order of their ranks on the party hierarchy, on China's top governing body.. Read more at straitstimes.com.

# data[].attributes.body
Introduction
Formula One: Red Bull keep Verstappen under contract to 2020. Verstappen became the  youngest ever race winner in Spain last year at the age of 18. He also won in Malaysia earlier this month, a day after his birthday. He is deemed as an important member of the team in the future by Team principal Christian Horner. “As we now look to the long term with Max, he is in the best place in the sport to build a team around him to deliver our shared ambition.”

Correlation
The organisational structure in Redbull is flat. Specialists are employed to perform different function. http://www.redbullracing.com/team Centralisation on employment of drivers seem to fall on the Team principal. The knowledge and experience, purpose and goal of Redbull, and the significance of the decision seems to influence the decision for employment.

Takeaway
There are many advantages of centralisation to decentralisation. However, to ensure effectiveness and efficiency in an  organisation, it depends on the characteristics of the employees and the environment. Centralisation is not necessary beneficial all the time although it may be efficient to a certain extent.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
AUSTIN, Texas (REUTERS) - Dutch driver Max Verstappen has signed a contract extension keeping him at Red Bull through the 2020 season, the Formula One team said on Friday (Oct 20).

The 20-year-old is a hot property in the sport after becoming the youngest ever race winner, in Spain last year at the age of 18. He also won in Malaysia earlier this month, a day after his birthday.

The son of former racer Jos has been linked to both Mercedes and Ferrari in media speculation but Red Bull were determined to lock in a youngster widely seen as a future world champion.

Team principal Christian Horner emphasised his importance to the future of the team in a statement at the US Grand Prix.

"He is pure racer, with an undeniable talent at the wheel and a rare instinct for what it takes to compete consistently at this level," said Horner.

"As we now look to the long term with Max, he is in the best place in the sport to build a team around him to deliver our shared ambition."

Red Bull's other driver is 28-year-old Australian Daniel Ricciardo, who has also been frequently linked in the past to Ferrari.

Both Verstappen and Ricciardo, also a race winner this season, already had contracts for 2018 but the focus will now be on the Australian's next move.

Verstappen's deal, effectively a one-year extension since his original contract was set to expire at the end of 2019, means that the top three teams are set to have their star drivers signed up for the next three years.

Ferrari have four-times world champion Sebastian Vettel under contract until 2020 while Lewis Hamilton is expected to agree a similar deal with Mercedes.

The triple world champion's current deal expires at the end of 2018.

Verstappen, who made his Formula One debut with Red Bull-owned Toro Rosso at the age of 17 in 2015, said the Austrian energy drink company had always shown their faith in him.

"They have always backed me and my ambition and I know we share that ambition," he said.

"I'm very happy to commit further to Red Bull Racing and I'm looking forward to working together to enjoy more success in the years to come."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Formula One: Red Bull keep Verstappen under contract to 2020

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
AUSTIN, Texas (REUTERS) - Dutch driver Max Verstappen has signed a contract extension keeping him at Red Bull through the 2020 season, the Formula One team said on Friday (Oct 20). The 20-year-old is a hot property in the sport after becoming the youngest ever race winner, in Spain last year at the age of 18.

# data[].attributes.headline
Hey guys. This is an interesting article on organisational culture and change. Hahaha. 

# data[].attributes.subject
Hey guys. This is an interesting article on organisational culture and change. Hahaha. 

# data[].attributes.body
- Keefe

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
SINGAPORE - In his first comments on the unprecedented flooding-induced train outage on Oct 7, Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan apologised to commuters but pinned the blame squarely on operator SMRT's maintenance regime.

"The bottomline is that MRT tunnels should not be flooded," he said at a media briefing on Monday (Oct 16).

Noting that the holding tank reservoir under the train tracks has a 5,000 cubic metres capacity, dwarfing the 640 cubic metres of rainfall near Bishan that day, Mr Khaw added: "The SMRT team in charge of maintaining flooding system at Bishan has failed us.

"It's so simple that it should not have happened...It's as embarrassing as that. (We must) nail down who is responsible. It's a localised team in Bishan. Something must happen to the staff."

SMRT's head honchos, including group president and chief executive officer Desmond Kuek and chairman Seah Moon Ming, told a press briefing that internal investigations were ongoing, and that the bonuses of the team at fault would be affected.

The team leader in charged of maintenance at Bishan station was also removed "immediately", following the disruption which affected about 250,000 commuters. Mr Kuek and Mr Seah both apologised to commuters for the disruption.

Acknowledging criticisms surrounding SMRT's work culture, Mr Kuek said: "Indeed, many of our major disruptions in the past have been attributed in some part, or all, to human error or failure. We regret that this is so."

Despite efforts to change the culture, "there remain some deep-seated cultural issues within the company that has needed more time than anticipated to root out," he added.

Mr Kuek assured, however, that the rail operator would "redouble efforts to instill a strong culture of operational discipline in our workforce", as well as strengthen engineering and maintenance capabilities to serve an ageing and expanding MRT network.

Train service for six stations along the North-South Line was down both ways for more than 20 hours overnight that weekend, after flooding in the tunnel between Bishan and Braddell MRT stations. The outage was one of the worst since the 2011 disruptions that led to a Committee of Inquiry.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) issued a statement after normal train service resumed in the afternoon of Oct 8, saying the flooding was caused by a failure of the water pump system at the tunnel.

At the media briefing on Monday, details disclosed by the authorities showed the extent of how poorly the anti-flooding system - installed in 2011 - had been maintained.

The storm water pit at Bishan was found lined with sludge, despite quarterly checks.

A switch in the system that should have stopped the three water pumps from running when water levels are low was also faulty, which could have caused the pumps to overheat and fail.

The result was overflooding of a 5,000L tank, causing rainwater that day to build up in the tunnel. For safety purposes, train services were halted and traction power was switched off. While the faulty switch was repaired, train services could not resume in the affected stretch until all the water was completely drained on Sunday, with the help of PUB and the Singapore Civil Defence Force.

SMRT also outlined what it would do to prevent a repeat of the incident, including replacing parts of water pump systems at all five flood protection systems it is in charge of by the end of the year. The others are at Lavender-Kallang, Kembangan-Bedok, Redhill-Tiong Bahru, and Expo-Changi Airport.

Maintenance checks will also be done every month now, the operator added.

Mr Seah, SMRT's chairman, said: "We will also put in place preventive measures to enhance system reliability and availability.

"We acknowledge that the recent spate of rail disruptions has affected public trust and confidence in SMRT. We are determined to make things right for our commuters and work towards providing a better service for the public."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Khaw apologises for NSL flooding, says SMRT's Bishan maintenance team 'has failed us'

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
SINGAPORE - In his first comments on the unprecedented flooding-induced train outage on Oct 7, Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan apologised to commuters but pinned the blame squarely on operator SMRT's maintenance regime. "The bottomline is that MRT tunnels should not be flooded," he said at a media briefing on Monday (Oct 16).

# data[].attributes.body
Introduction

The All Blacks have always been a very dominating rugby team in the world. An Australian columnist commented that the All Blacks dominance threatens world rugby. The columnist argued that the success of the All Blacks might be wonderful for New Zealand, but questioned whether it is positive for test rugby and the health of the game in other countries. The New Zealanders have lost only two games since winning the 2015 World Cup.

Takeaway

The All Blacks can be viewed as an Organisation as a culture. Not only does everyone in the team has shared values, the organisation managed to mobilised the country together to share the same value as the team. The Haka performed at the start of each match connects the team to the Maori roots of the country. The culture of the All Blacks has evolved to one of winning, and the national expectations of them are to win every match. The pressure is high, but the players are performing to their expectations. According to the correspondent, the All Blacks could turn ‘Rugby into a big Yawn’, but sustaining a winning culture like that takes a lot of effort, and the All Blacks are putting in the effort to keep their, and the nations, culture and expectations.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
An Australian columnist says the All Blacks dominance threatens world rugby.

Writing in the Guardian, Bret Harris says the success of the All Blacks might be wonderful for New Zealand, but questions remain whether it is positive for test rugby and the health of the game in other countries.

"This is particularly true for Australia, as the Wallabies play the Kiwis more often than any other team," wrote Harris.

"Never in the history of sport has there been an international team as dominant as the All Blacks. The New Zealanders have lost only two games since winning the 2015 World Cup - an exhibition against Ireland in Chicago and the second test against the combined might of the Lions, which they played with 14 men for almost three quarters of the game after Sonny Bill Williams was red-carded.

"While New Zealand has been the top country in world rugby for more than 100 years, the All Blacks have not always been invincible, especially at the World Cup from 1991 to 2007 when they were regularly knocked out in the play-off stages.

"The All Blacks would dominate test rugby in between World Cups only to choke at the showpiece event, giving the likes of Australia, England and South Africa an opportunity to claim the mantle as the world's best team.

"But the All Blacks have now won the last two World Cups in 2011 and 2015 and it is not beyond the realms of possibility they will remain undefeated until they lift the Webb Ellis Cup again in Japan in 2019.

"This kind of dominance is abhorred in other sports. Most professional sporting competitions have introduced drafts and/or salary caps to maintain parity among teams, seeing it as detrimental for one side to win all the time, but these sort of equalising mechanisms are not applicable to test rugby."

Harris said England was one side which could threaten the All Blacks.

"Under former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones, England are certainly mobilising their forces to make a genuine assault on the World Cup in Japan, instilling the same will to win that the men in white had in 2003. Rugby supporters around the globe are salivating at the prospect of England hosting the All Blacks at Twickenham in November next year, but that is a long time to wait to see the Kiwis knocked off their pedestal.

"In the meantime, the Wallabies and the Springboks look as if they have turned the corner, raising hope that a famous win against the All Blacks is not too far away. Both Australia and South Africa gave the All Blacks a run for their money in the Rugby Championship, narrowly losing epic contests in Dunedin and Cape Town respectively.

'['France, of course, are always a wildcard at the World Cup, having knocked the All Blacks out of the tournament in 1999 and 2007 and almost upsetting them in the final in Auckland in 2011. The All Blacks play France in Paris on their end of year tour. Les Bleus always step up when they play New Zealand and will be a formidable opponent."

There was a danger though, according to Harris that the All Blacks could turn rugby into "a big yawn".

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Rugby: All Blacks' dominance a threat to world rugby, says Australian scribe

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
An Australian columnist says the All Blacks dominance threatens world rugby. Writing in the Guardian, Bret Harris says the success of the All Blacks might be wonderful for New Zealand, but questions remain whether it is positive for test rugby and the health of the game in other countries.

# data[].attributes.body
The People’s Association Community Sports Clubs Friendship Grant is a government grant given to residents to support initiative for people to organise sports activities for their communities due to "overwhelming response" in January. Through this grant, Civil service clubs (CSC) also uses e-sport or competitive gaming to integrate the community and foster bonding and social cohesions.

Is CSC a sport organization?
I will argue that in this case, a CSC has developed itself into a sport organization. Firstly, they have organized themselves as a social entity to develop programmes for youths in e-sports gaming although their main goal is to engage youths and getting them to integrate with the community physically. It can be seen that the means to achieve their goals is remotely the only process that involves sport, yet the fundamental philosophy of fostering stronger ties and community bond between this initiative and sport is similar.  There are also conscious structure to manage organizational goals but vague identifiable boundary to distinguish participating residents.

Takeaway
Given the same set of evidence, I argue that the presupposition used to build the premises of the conclusion will lead to a different perspective on the nature of sports organization. CSC as a community club can then be developed into a sport organization by allowing themselves to be part of the sport community from a single sport initiative.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
SINGAPORE - A government grant that supports a grassroots initiative for people to organise sports activities for their communities will be extended another year.

Mr Ng Chee Meng, Education Minister (Schools), announced this at a Community Sports Night award event on Saturday (Oct 14).

The People's Association Community Sports Clubs Friendship Grant was also extended to include schools, which may now apply for it to encourage greater participation among students, teachers and residents.

As it is with individuals now, students and teachers may get up to S$2,000 in grant for every project to organise sporting activities in their neighbourhood, with the aim to boost interaction between the students and residents, and to allow the students to hone their planning abilities.

This added provision was given due to "overwhelming response" to the grant, which was rolled out in January. At that time, it was to encourage reidents to initiate and organise community sports in their neighbourhood. So far, more than 25 such projects have been organised by residents for residents, the People's Association said in its press statement.

To take the initiatives further, the association and its Community Sports Clubs (CSCs) will focus on engaging youth and getting them to integrate with the community physically through e-sports (cyber sports), or competitive gaming.

Interest groups will be formed to encourage youth who are interested in e-sports to come together and exchange tips and skills, and to make new friends along the way, the association said.

At the awards night on Saturday, 30 Community Sports Clubs received the Community Sports Club Awards.

Bukit Batok East, Pasir Ris West, Punggol North and Yio Chu Kang CSCs won the top platinum awards for their initiatives.

Five CSCs took the Community Engagement Awards, for running innovative programmes.

Tampines West CSC, for example, organised a "50-hour non-stop run" that offered a twist to the rules of standard marathons. Participants may take up to slightly more than two days to complete 10 laps around the Bedok Reservoir - each lap being about 4.3km - which would add up to a full marathon's distance of about 42.5km. This gave residents a chance to be a "marathon finisher".

CSC Council chairman Lawrence Ng said: "(The winning CSCs) have invested a substantial amount of time and effort in developing programmes that foster community bonding and enhance social cohesion... they went the extra mile to involve residents in a participatory and inclusive manner, bringing people of all ages, races, and estates together."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Grant to foster community bonds through sports extended to schools

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
SINGAPORE - A government grant that supports a grassroots initiative for people to organise sports activities for their communities will be extended another year. Mr Ng Chee Meng, Education Minister (Schools), announced this at a Community Sports Night award event on Saturday (Oct 14).

# data[].attributes.body
Temptations are everywhere, however treatment to control impulsiveness is limited to professional help and is usually used for patients with high impulse levels. Nevertheless, researches from University of Kansas has found notable degree of self-control improvements among pilot-tested participants based on a validated self-reported instrument using running exercise as an intervention.

Metaphor
The organizational processes of this university can be described as one of 'Organization as Brains'.  By seeking alternative measures for impulsiveness treatment from professionals is shown to be meaningful as there are no other preventive treatment at this moment substantiated by scientific community. The philosophy undergirding this ideation in betterment of inquiry suggested the nature of metaphor used in this example. As researchers function within their bounded rationality while exhibiting information-processing capabilities, suggest be having organization functioning as 'brains' albeit not exclusive, is required for such organization to thrive.

Takeaway
In order for meaningful innovations and knowledge to be discovered, an organization that functions as 'Brains' is necessary but not exclusively, although possibility for syncretism with other listed organizational metaphors is not part of today's takeaway. Therefore research industry should be careful to not function their organization as 'machines' in the name of efficiency.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
NEW YORK - For most of us, temptations are everywhere, from the dessert buffet to the online shoe boutique. But a new study suggests that exercise may be a simple if unexpected way to increase our willpower and perhaps help us to avoid making impulsive choices that we will later regret.

Self-control is one of those concepts that we all recognise and applaud but do not necessarily practice. It requires forgoing things that entice us, which, let's face it, is not fun. On the other hand, lack of self-control can be consequential for health and well-being, often contributing to problems like weight gain, depression or money woes.

Given these effects, scientists and therapists have been interested in finding ways to increase people's self-restraint. Various types of behavioural therapies and counselling have shown promise. But such techniques typically require professional assistance and have, for the most part, been used to treat people with abnormally high levels of impulsiveness.

There have been few scientifically validated options available to help those of us who may want to be just a little better at resisting our more devilish urges.

So for the new study, which was published recently in Behaviour Modification, a group of researchers at the University of Kansas began wondering about exercise.

Exercise is known to have considerable psychological effects. It can raise moods, for example, and expand people's sense of what they are capable of doing. So perhaps, the researchers speculated, exercise may alter how well people can control their impulses.

To find out, the scientists decided first to conduct a tiny pilot study, involving four men and women.

These volunteers, who had been sedentary and overweight, were told they would be taking part in an exercise program to get them ready to complete a 5K race, and that the study would examine some of the effects of the training, including psychological impacts.

The volunteers began by completing a number of questionnaires, including one that quantified their "delay discounting", a measure that psychologists use to assess someone's ability to put off pleasures now for greater enjoyments later. It tests, for instance, whether a person would choose to accept US$5 today or US$15 a week from now.

The delay-discounting questionnaire is generally accepted in research circles as a valid measure of someone's self-control.

The volunteers then undertook a two-month walking and jogging regimen, meeting three times a week for 45 minutes with the researchers, who coached them through the sessions, urging them to maintain a pace that felt difficult but sustainable. Each week the men and women also repeated the questionnaires.

Finally, a month after the formal training had ended, the volunteers returned to the university for one more round of testing. (Later, two of them also ran 5K races.)

The results were intriguing, the researchers felt. Three of the four participants had developed significantly greater self-control, according to their delay-discounting answers, and maintained those gains a month after the formal training had ended. But one volunteer, who had missed multiple sessions, showed no changes in impulsivity.

A four-person study is too small to be meaningful, though, so the researchers next repeated the experiment with 12 women of varying ages, weights and fitness levels.

The results were almost identical to those in the pilot study. Most of the women gained a notable degree of self-control, based on their questionnaires, after completing the walking and jogging programme. (In this experiment, they were told they were training for better fitness.)

But the increases were proportional; the more sessions a woman attended or the more her average jogging pace increased, the greater the improvement in her delay-discounting score.

These gains lingered a month after the training had ended, although most of the women had tapered off their exercise routines by then.

The upshot of these results would seem to be that exercise could be a simple way to help people shore up their self-restraint, said Michael Sofis, a doctoral candidate in applied behavioural science at the University of Kansas who led the study.

These two experiments cannot tell us, though, how exercise helps us to ignore a cupcake's allure.

But Sofis said that many past studies have concluded that regular exercise alters the workings of portions of the brain involved in higher-level thinking and decision-making, which, in turn, play important roles in impulse control.

Exercise also may have more abstract psychological impacts on our sense of self-control, he said.

It is, for many of us, a concentrated form of delayed gratification. Exerting ourselves during a workout is not always immediately pleasurable. But it can feel marvellous afterward to know that we managed to keep going, a sensation that could spill over into later decision-making.

Of course, with only 16 participants, these experiments remained small-scale and limited, relying on a fundamentally artificial, mathematical measure of self-control. The scientists did not, for example, track whether the volunteers became less impulsive in their actual daily lives.

Sofis and his colleagues hope to conduct follow-up studies that will look at the real-world effects of exercise on self-control.

But for now, he said, these results suggest that normal people "can change and improve their self-control with regular physical activity." NEW YORK TIMES

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Exercise may help increase your willpower and self-control

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
NEW YORK - For most of us, temptations are everywhere, from the dessert buffet to the online shoe boutique. But a new study suggests that exercise may be a simple if unexpected way to increase our willpower and perhaps help us to avoid making impulsive choices that we will later regret.

# data[].attributes.body
Introduction
ActiveSG has noted the significant growth in the interest in Tennis in the past 15 months and have engaged schools and bring the sport to the students such as through playing mini-tennis in the school hall so they get to experience the game and find out that it's quite fun." There has been link-ups with Primary schools to grow the base of players. This will allow budding talent to be spotted at an early age and funnelled into the national set-up.

Correlation
This is an example of measuring organisation effectiveness using the Goal Attainment and System Resource Approach.

Takeaway
Considering this as a start to promote awareness in Tennis and gather young talents, pumping in resources such as the organisation of the inaugural Singapore Tennis Festival and tours which include group workouts, mini-tennis games, coaching clinics is a good way to attain the single goal of increasing young talent base of players for now.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Tennis may not have the broad reach of team sports like football or basketball but that has not prevented the ActiveSG tennis academy from registering significant growth in the past 15 months.

Launched in July last year with an initial group of 300 students at its first centre in Kallang, the academy has expanded to five centres island-wide with more than 2,700 participants. A sixth centre, at Our Tampines Hub, is expected.

ActiveSG chief Lai Chin Kwang told The Straits Times yesterday: "What we have done is to not just depend on engagement on the tennis court itself. We engage schools and bring the sport to the students such as through playing mini-tennis in the school hall so they get to experience the game and find out that it's quite fun."

He noted that the academy has linked up with three primary schools including Naval Base Primary, which last year signed up its entire Primary 4 cohort for its mini-tennis programme.

Growing the base of players will allow budding talent to be spotted at an early age and funnelled into the national set-up.

Lai said: "This is also one of our aspirations, to create more opportunities for such talent to surface, to spot boys or girls with the potential to play at the elite level as they spend more time with us."

Shaheed Alam, the first local male player to win an International Tennis Federation Junior singles title with his victory in Singapore in 2015, welcomed ActiveSG's broad-based approach.

"For sure it's a good platform to source talent, for younger kids to come through the ranks," said the 19-year-old, who competed at the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games.

"Getting them started with mini-tennis is a very good idea. It's easier to have more rallies and for kids to enjoy the game. That's how I got started too."

The inaugural Singapore Tennis Festival, a month-long event launched by Sport Singapore in conjunction with the WTA Finals, began on Oct 1.

SportSG will also conduct experience tours - which include group workouts, mini-tennis games, coaching clinics - during the Oct 22-29 WTA Finals.

For more information, visit www.tennisfest.sg

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Tennis: Serving tennis up to broad base is bringing a net gain

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Tennis may not have the broad reach of team sports like football or basketball but that has not prevented the ActiveSG tennis academy from registering significant growth in the past 15 months. Launched in July last year with an initial group of 300 students at its first centre in Kallang, the academy has expanded to five centres island-wide with more than 2,700 participants.

# data[].attributes.body
http://www.straitstimes.com/sport/formula-one/making-good-even-better
Article highlights how the F1 Singapore GP is a boost to tourism, putting Singapore on the map  as the first night race held Asia (2008), the shows and events that comes along with the long line-up of celebrities, etc.

I think it can be seen as a success as an Organizational Machine; 350,000 international visitors attended the event from 2008-2015, which brings in $150 million annually. This could only be possible when services ranging from, hotel, entertainment, logistics, air travel, F&B, all come together to help the event work like a well-oiled machine. Not to mention the intangible benefits of networking opportunities for future collaborations. It is seen to be so successful that the contract to hold the event was extended for another 4 yrs (2021).

In spite of the big money rolling in, I can't help but ponder about the original goal(s) of the F1 as a sport. While sponsorship and funding is a realistic concern for any sport, I find it strange that the whole F1 race is now more about the crowd-drawing performance and other frills that comes along more than the race event itself.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
On Wednesday, Formula One chairman and CEO Chase Carey expressed a wish to see Singapore continue hosting a Grand Prix beyond this year.

And talk is gathering pace that race organisers are trying to seal the deal before the race is over on Sunday.

It is not hard to see why.

James Walton, the sports business group leader of Deloitte Singapore and South-east Asia, is in no doubt that Singapore has gained much from hosting what former F1 ringmaster Bernie Ecclestone called the sport's "crown jewel".

"From a sporting point, it showed that Singapore is an economically strong city that can host sports and cultural events well. Teams and tourists have enjoyed the smooth and seamless trips to Singapore. And those tourist receipts will trickle down into retail," he explained.

Associate Professor Sharon Ng, who teaches marketing at Nanyang Technological University's Nanyang Business School, added: "Hosting the F1 race gives Singapore greater visibility globally, given that it is a popular sport around the world.

"It allows us to showcase the city and the beautiful skyline. As a brand, Singapore is associated with efficiency but we are also generally seen as a less exciting city than other places. F1 helps to increase the fun and excitement quotient for the country. So I think Singapore should continue to host it."

ADDING FUN TO EFFICIENCY
F1 helps to increase the fun and excitement quotient for the country. So I think Singapore should continue to host it.
SHARON NG , who lectures in marketing at Nanyang Business School, on the need to showcase the city and skyline.

Statistics provided by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) indicate F1's strong contribution to the tourism sector.

From 2008 to 2015, the night race attracted a total of 350,000 international visitors, generating an average of $150 million incremental tourism receipts annually.

However, Walton feels the contract should be extended only "if the deal is right for both parties".

INVESTMENTS PAY OFF
This is not commonly known but F1 is a big boost to the local people. The money spent on organising the race goes back into the Singapore economy and not out of the country.
JAMES WALTON, sports business group leader of Deloitte Singapore and South-east Asia, on the benefits.

He said: "We are not privy to the intimate details and terms but the balance of time, money and effort spent must be right. At the decision point, it has to be a win-win for all."

That appears to be the case in the years since the F1 mechanical beasts roared down the Marina Bay Street Circuit in the inaugural race in 2008.

A major reason for the night race's success has been its unique blend of combining gripping track action, entertainment from headline acts and business networking opportunities in the financial hub.

This formula has worked so well that Carey now wants similar week-long extravaganzas across hosting cities, having held a car parade in London before Silverstone and a post-race party in Milan after the Monza race.

But the local economy also gets a turbo boost, too, when the F1 show rolls into town every September.

Jean Ng, the director for sports in the STB's experience development group, said: "Local businesses such as our small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have also been actively involved in race preparations, such as circuit set-up, ticketing and security services, with about 90 per cent of Singapore Grand Prix's race organisation being sub-contracted annually to these SMEs.

"Over the years, these companies have reaped economic benefits and also built capabilities, gained exposure and established new business opportunities as a result of being involved in race-related work, and some have expanded their business overseas."

She cited local audio-visual lighting company Hexogon Solution as an example. The night race has given it opportunities to expand to Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan and Thailand.

Similarly, catering firm Steward's Solution has also used the Singapore Grand Prix as a springboard to create a presence at events in China, San Francisco and Manila.

Walton added: "This is not commonly known but F1 is a big boost to the local people. The money spent on organising the race goes back into the Singapore economy and not out of the country; there is a recycling effect."

But not all are thrilled by the annual F1 circus and the road closures that result. Businesses around the track have complained that the race has driven away shoppers during Grand Prix weekend.

One shop is cobbler/locksmith Shukey at Suntec City. An employee revealed that business falls by as much as half during the four days leading up to the race as the masses find it inconvenient to navigate past the road closures. An employee at watchmaker Tissot reported the same, too.

Looking ahead, some feel more needs to be done to keep the event fresh.

Associate Professor Ang Swee Hoon from the National University of Singapore Business School feels that the Singapore Grand Prix has "lost some of its shine compared to the inaugural event" and believes the organisers should give the event a makeover.

She suggested: "We should optimise the skyline. Perhaps have a wall lighting of the skyscrapers of the different attractions in Singapore. Each skyscraper becomes an advertising medium with the image of each attraction lit against the building. That way, we are also promoting the rest of Singapore to the millions of F1 viewers."

Walton also hopes that given the resources available to the megabucks teams and slick organisers, this most glamorous of sports can reach out to more locals. Although road shows have visited the heartland, it is arguable that F1 has yet to truly resonate with most Singaporeans.

He noted: "I hope to see teams and sponsors bring more to the table. There can be more community engagement to create more interest in F1."

One important group of people who are keen to continue revving things up on arguably the toughest circuit on the calendar are the drivers.

Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas said: "I hope that the Singapore GP continues for a long time; it has become part of Formula One. It's a unique event, it's a very nice city for fans to visit and I always enjoy coming here. It's a beautiful-looking race with all the lights in the night, probably the most stunning-looking Grand Prix.

"We like challenges. This track is physically the most demanding race but I wouldn't change anything."

Force India's Sergio Perez added: "It's a spectacular track, probably the overtaking side is not very interesting for the fans. There is not a lot of overtaking but generally there is always contact - there is always a crash here - so I think it's a very challenging track, it's good for Formula One."
*Additional reporting by Lester Wong and Ian Kiew

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
F1 a boon to economy but some activities need spicing up, say observers

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
On Wednesday, Formula One chairman and CEO Chase Carey expressed a wish to see Singapore continue hosting a Grand Prix beyond this year. And talk is gathering pace that race organisers are trying to seal the deal before the race is over on Sunday.. Read more at straitstimes.com.

# data[].attributes.body
13 Oct 2017
Athletics: Officials say Singapore Athletics needs to sort out issues

http://www.straitstimes.com/sport/officials-say-track-body-must-sort-out-disputes
Article touched on the the recent disagreements between the leadership level of Singapore Athletics (SA) and how it is affecting the disbursement of funds to athletes in the upcoming season.

The disagreements within SA displays traits of a sporting organisation as a political system with each stakeholders focused on varying interest - individuals (in leadership roles, coaches and athletes) are grouped together to realise personal ambitions/directions; differing camps amongst leadership (your side vs mine), technical directions (attending of training camp at venue x or venue y), when and how will athletes receive the next subsidy, etc.

If administrators at the highest level are unable to communicate and come to a common point in which they can work together in the interest of the athletes, it is ultimately the athletes that are affected and the sport that will suffer.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The "dysfunctional" squabbling leadership at Singapore Athletics (SA) have been urged to resolve their differences.

In the latest incident to tar track and field, national athletes were left confused on Tuesday regarding the status of their subsidy programme, The New Paper reported yesterday.

Singapore Sports Institute (SSI) chief Toh Boon Yi told The Straits Times yesterday: "The athletics community and leadership at SA need to resolve their differences in order for their sport to progress. We will seek clarification with SA on their intention and plans.

"The continuation of public funding will depend on whether there is confidence that those plans can be implemented effectively."

The SSI is a department of national sports governing body Sport Singapore.

The SA's internal carding system - which allocates athletes up to $1,200 per month based on various criteria - had expired last month without the necessary follow-up.

This arose owing to a lack of communication among the management committee members, with SA president Ho Mun Cheong and SA's vice-president of training and selection Govindasamy Balasekaran leading the divided camps.

Former SA president Tang Weng Fei, who helmed the association from 2004 to 2006, and 2010 to last year, expressed dismay that the discord among officials has directly affected athletes.

"Recent developments saddened me as internal bickering has turned SA into a dysfunctional NSA (national sports association)," he added.

Tang, 63, a former national hurdler, is considering challenging for the top post again next year.

Retired thrower James Wong said the current SA leadership had to "look (themselves) in the mirror and ask if (they) are doing the right thing".

The former SA general manager added: "You asked people to vote you in because you want to help the sport ... the question is whether you have done this, and if you're not doing the right thing, then fix yourself."

SEA Games high jump champion Michelle Sng called for clarification on the funding. The next tranche of payment is due in December or January. She said: "Everyone's just asking questions to find out if it's because they haven't released the information yet or because (carding) has ceased indefinitely, so everyone just wants to know what's going on for next season."

SA has been plagued by infighting over the past year. One of these disagreements - between technical director Volker Herrmann and Shanti Pereira's coach Margaret Oh - had led to the sprinter's place in the SEA Games 4x100m relay team being in jeopardy. Shanti admitted after the August SEA Games that she had been affected by the dispute.

Two-time Olympian C. Kunalan, who served as SA's vice-president (training and selection) from 2010 to 2016, believes these issues arose because the administrators were unwilling to communicate.

"I'm just sad that they fell out ... I think they should all look at one another, shake hands and decide if they can work together or not," said the 74-year-old former national sprinter.

Kunalan added: "If you really love athletics and you feel you can contribute, then shake hands and contribute, that's the simplest.

"Otherwise then your expertise is wasted and you feel angry, what's the point of being in sports?"

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Athletics: Officials say Singapore Athletics needs to sort out issues

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The "dysfunctional" squabbling leadership at Singapore Athletics (SA) have been urged to resolve their differences. In the latest incident to tar track and field, national athletes were left confused on Tuesday regarding the status of their subsidy programme, The New Paper reported yesterday.

# data[].attributes.body
I teach in the Diploma of Outdoor and Adventure Learning.
I am back from mystical Bromo with students. My life has officially shorten by 50 years but all is good. My life is in a series of tsunami right now, mainly cos of work, ridiculously demanding. I am already at 2020. So I particularly look forward to classes at NIE cos, its the only time I get to leave early! Cheers!

# data[].attributes.body
Context of News
One Championship, which is a Singapore-based Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) promoter, announced that it will stage more live events in 2018 as compared to previous years, and that it will for the first time stage live MMA events in South Korea and Japan, hinting about its increasing success and popularity.

Metaphor
One Championship, as a sports organisation, can be viewed as Machines. It organises live MMA events in different countries, one after another, to achieve the same goal of "content ubiquity across platforms (free-to-air TV, paid TV, digital, social, etc) and devices (TV, computers, mobile, etc) with 24 hour accessibility, 365 days a year"[as taken from their vision statement]. One Championship repeats its effective strategy:
identifies and aggressively highlights the main athletes who are the top attractions in its pre-event promotions, which due to live-to-air viewing, is not personal to the country. It does include 2 local attraction fights (local fighters) in its host country events.

This sets of operations become very repetitive, and rigid, especially with live viewership in which audience (both at venue and at home) expect the same high standards of organisation in every series.

Takeaway
Having a board of directors to decide on how to adjust its directions and approach in reaction to success and/or competitors' strategies, while the rest of the organisation merely repeats the effective formula, is currently optimal for One Championship. It may not be so in the future, as factors may change( eg. audience's needs change) and the board of directors may not be able to identify the shift in .

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
SINGAPORE - One Championship announced on Thursday (Sep 21) it will stage a record 24 live events across Asia in 2018 and will enter new markets in South Korea and Japan.

The Singapore-based mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter, founded in 2011, has scheduled 18 events for this year, which is the most in a single season.

One Championship chief executive and chairman Chatri Sityodtong said: "We are thrilled to announce our incredible 2018 calendar of events for ONE Championship.

"We have 24 massive shows planned for all sports fans in Asia and will continue to showcase the absolute best in martial arts, delivered by our homegrown martial arts superheroes. 2018 is going to be an epic year of action and I can't wait to get things started."

One Championship has enjoyed a strong performance outside the cage in 2017. Earlier this year, it raised total capital of US$100 million (S$135 million) following new deals with two major investors.

It secured equity investment from Sequoia Capital India and Mission Holdings following its latest funding round. Both have acquired minority stakes in One Championship.

This comes after the MMA firm signed a "significant eight-figure" deal with investment firm Heliconia Capital Management, a wholly owned subsidiary of Temasek Holdings, in 2016.

Data released by Nielsen, Facebook and Repucom earlier this year showed that One Championship has experienced impressive growth in its television viewership and social media numbers since 2014.

Video viewership numbers were at 312,000 in 2014 but have jumped to 314 million, based on the first quarter of this year, said One Championship. It added that it has doubled the number of countries it reaches - from 60 to more than 128 - in the same period.

One Championship's main competitor is the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the US-based organisation that was sold for US$4 billion last year and whose new owner - sports and arts talent group WME-IMG - is keen to make inroads into Asia.

UFC held a live event in Singapore in June, its first in the Republic since 2014. It will hold two other events in Asia, in Saitama, Japan on Sept 23 and Shanghai on Nov 25.

One Championship has about 450 fighters, mostly Asian, in its stable. Among its biggest stars are Myanmar's Aung La N Sang, Japan's Shinya Aoki, Eduard Folayang of the Philippines and Canadian Angela Lee, who has roots in South Korea and Singapore.

Lee will face Japan's Mei Yamaguchi on Nov 24 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in a rematch of their championship bout from 2016.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Mixed martial arts: One Championship to stage record 24 events across Asia in 2018

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
SINGAPORE - One Championship announced on Thursday (Sep 21) it will stage a record 24 live events across Asia in 2018 and will enter new markets in South Korea and Japan. The Singapore-based mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter, founded in 2011, has scheduled 18 events for this year, which is the most in a single season.

# data[].attributes.body
Introduction

Hong Kong football supporters jeered China's national anthem on Tuesday (Oct 10) as tensions between sections of the city's population and the mainland Chinese authorities continue to simmer. This was not the first time the jeering has occurred as the HKFA has previously been fined by FIFA, football's world governing body, over the booing of China's national anthem.

Metaphor

This is seen as an organisation as culture as there was a sense of shared values among the HK football supporters in HKFA not only towards the game but towards China’s role in running the city since it took over following the handover of sovereignty from Britain in 1997.

Takeaway

It illustrates the unhappiness and displeasure of the HK people with China ruling that there is a sense of strong culture amongst their people. Even after the HKFA has previously been fined by FIFA, football's world governing body, over the booing of China's national anthem, this does not stop the people of HK from their jeering in their most recent match.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
HONG KONG - Hong Kong football supporters again jeered China's national anthem on Tuesday (Oct 10) as tensions between sections of the city's population and the mainland Chinese authorities continue to simmer.

A group of fans at Hong Kong Stadium for the Asian Cup qualifying match against Malaysia booed during 'The March of the Volunteers' in a continuing show of defiance that began in the aftermath of the city's pro-democracy protests in 2014.

Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) chairman Brian Leung declined to comment on the behaviour of the supporters.

"We always welcome fans to come and support the Hong Kong team," he was quoted as saying by the South China Morning Post.

"That's why we are here tonight. Our focus is solely on sport and we are not going to discuss subjects other than that."

Football matches have increasingly become venues for the voicing of discontent from those in Hong Kong who are unhappy with China's role in running the city since it took over following the handover of sovereignty from Britain in 1997.

The HKFA has previously been fined by FIFA, football's world governing body, over the booing of China's national anthem.

China's National People's Congress passed a law in September stating that disrespecting the anthem could result in 15 days' imprisonment. The law has come into force in China but has yet to be extended to Hong Kong.

The Asian Champions League meetings between Hong Kong's Eastern club and Guangzhou Evergrande earlier this year prompted security concerns around the games in Guangzhou and Hong Kong.

Hong Kong fans were denied access to the first match in Guangzhou, while Evergrande supporters displayed abusive banners at the return game in Hong Kong's Mongkok Stadium, a move that saw the Chinese Super League club fined by the Asian Football Confederation.

Hong Kong won Tuesday's game against Malaysia 2-0 to move closer to securing a place at the Asian Cup finals in the United Arab Emirates in 2019. REUTERS

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Hong Kong fans jeer China's national anthem during football match

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
HONG KONG - Hong Kong football supporters again jeered China's national anthem on Tuesday (Oct 10) as tensions between sections of the city's population and the mainland Chinese authorities continue to simmer.

# data[].attributes.body
Introduction

On August 26, it features one of the biggest blockbuster boxing match between Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather Jr. To hype that fight, the two did a few news conferences together, and the trash talk that was exchanged attracted the attention of Dana White, the president of the UFC and Mayweather’s promotions head, Leonard Ellerbe. Both representatives were confident a deal was closing that they paved the way for McGregor to obtain a boxing license for the boxing match.

Metaphor

This is an example of organisation as brains. It was a good decision that was made by the 2 different organisation to capitalise on the feud between the 2 superstars to generate revenue and publicity for the upcoming fight. It was also a joint effort from the 2 organisations to ensure that an MMA fighter would receive a boxing license to be in ring with a boxer.

Takeaway

Organizations are information systems in which they make use of information (feud between the 2) obtained and translate it into money making and publicity opportunities.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Perhaps unsurprisingly for a man with the nickname 'Mystic Mac', it was Conor McGregor who first predicted that a super-fight with Floyd Mayweather would one day take place. That fight takes place tonight.

"If you're asking would I like to fight Floyd Mayweather, I mean, who would not like to dance around the ring for $180m?" McGregor replied to a playful question from late-night host Conan O'Brien, in July 2015, on whether he would ever be tempted into switching sports. "I would certainly box him if the opportunity arose," he smiled. "Most certainly."

The question - and indeed, McGregor's answer - seemed like throwaway comments, not intended to be taken seriously while the charismatic Irishman had his heart completely set on dethroning José Aldo as the UFC featherweight champion of the world. McGregor's comments made headlines, and then quickly faded away.

It was Mayweather who rekindled the speculation, that December. In an interview with FightHype on the worldwide adulation McGregor had received for knocking out Aldo in just 13 seconds, the American complained that he would never receive such acclaim from the public because of the colour of his skin.

"They say he talk a lot of trash and people praise him for it, but when I did it, they say I'm cocky and arrogant," Mayweather observed. "So biased! Like I said before, all I'm saying is this, I ain't racist at all, but I'm telling you racism still exists."

This time, it didn't take the other man the best part of half a year to respond. "Don't ever bring my race into my success again," McGregor commented in a long Instagram post, the very next day.

"I am an Irishman. My people have been oppressed our entire existence. And still very much are. I understand the feeling of prejudice. It is a feeling that is deep in my blood ... If you want we can organise a fight no problem. I will give you a fair 80/20 split purse in my favour seen as your last fight bombed at every area of revenue."

A feud was born.

The pair began to frequently exchange barbs on social media, with things coming to a boil in May 2016. British tabloid The Sun reported that the two men were "on the verge" of agreeing to a deal, with an unnamed source telling the paper that "Floyd is obsessed with making Conor eat his words".

Before you ask for $25M, be worth more than $25M. You have the "2" and the "5" right but you meant to say $2.5M not $25M. pic.twitter.com/07vaWF0hen
- Floyd Mayweather (@FloydMayweather) January 19, 2017

The story attracted so much attention that Dana White, the president of the UFC, felt compelled to finally address the situation. He laughed off suggestions the super-fight would ever take place, instead pointing out that McGregor was contracted to the UFC, and would thus be in breach of contract should he attempt to organise a fight himself away from the confines of the Octagon.

White's dismissive comments appeared to spur Mayweather into action. First he insisted the fight was "possible". Then he told a journalist that he was a retired man and would only countenance returning to professional sport in order to fight McGregor. And then he pressed the nuclear button, offering the Irishman just $50m to fight him in what people were already describing as a billion-dollar bout.

McGregor, a man who enjoys nothing more than dressing from head to toe in Gucci and Givenchy and parading his eclectic collection of super-cars on social media, was stung.

"He's getting old now," he thundered in an interview. "I have the size, I have the reach, I have the height, I have the youth. He needs me. I don't need him."

Later, while promoting his rematch with Nate Diaz - a fight which he would ultimately win and which broke all previous UFC pay-per-view records - McGregor added Mayweather was "running around the Showtime offices begging for those executives to come up with $100 million cash for me, to fight me."

Excitement grew when McGregor beat Diaz and obtained a Californian boxing license, all in the space of a few days. But in December 2016, Mayweather's promotions head, Leonard Ellerbe, poured cold water on the prospective fight, insisting it was "a calculated effort to gain more fans".

A full year after Mayweather had first responded to McGregor's jibes, the billion-dollar fight looked to be dead in the water.

Step forward Dana White. Having himself rubbished the chances of the fight, just like Ellerbe, the UFC president changed tact. Perhaps aware of the staggering sums on offer, he made a public offer to Mayweather: $25m for each man plus a cut of the PPV. May weather flatly rejected the offer - but the talks were back on.

I am in Las Vegas. Floyd has retired on my arrival. pic.twitter.com/z9EcxBJaDr
- Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) February 15, 2017

Things began to move quickly in March 2017. First Mayweather told fans on his 'Undefeated' tour that he was "coming out of retirement to face Conor McGregor". White then told Conan O'Brien he was increasingly confident a deal was close, while the Nevada Athletic Commission paved the way for McGregor to obtain a boxing license with them.

And then in May, McGregor insisted in an interview that he had signed his half of the agreement.

The next month, on Wednesday 14 June, both men announced the fight on their individual social-media accounts.

THE FIGHT IS ON. pic.twitter.com/KhW0u3jRft
- Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) June 14, 2017

"THE FIGHT IS ON," McGregor posted on Twitter, along with a mocking picture of himself side-by-side with Floyd Mayweather Snr. "It's official!" replied Mayweather on Instagram, along with a short promotional video confirming the involvement of Showtime.

Both men revealed that the date for the fight had been set for August 26. And so, one of the longest-running sagas in the history of combat sport reached a temporary conclusion.

Tonight, that conclusion becomes more permanant.

Reuse content

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor's trash talk turned into the most lucrative fight in history

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Perhaps unsurprisingly for a man with the nickname 'Mystic Mac', it was Conor McGregor who first predicted that a super-fight with Floyd Mayweather would one day take place. That fight takes place tonight. "If you're asking would I like to fight Floyd Mayweather, I mean, who would not like to dance around the ring for $180m?"

# data[].attributes.body
ONE Championship undefeated champion, Angela Lee, rejects joining UFC and would not leave ONE for another organisation.

“I’m a little bit offended when someone brings that (UFC) up. ONE are doing an amazing job and I wouldn’t leave them for another organisation," said Lee. This was her respond to UFC senior vice-president of international and content, Joe Carr's, comment about the massive gap between Lee and top female fighters from the UFC.

This is another example of an organisation as a political system. UFC is riling Lee to join their organisation with a clear objective to ride on her wave and increasing their viewership and exposure. Classic example of ambition to realise their own ambitions and self interest rather than working towards a common goal, which is to promote MMA. If UFC is already so established with top female fighters according to Carr, they should engage Lee as a platform to promote MMA through ONE in Asia instead of pulling her over and cause a potential loss in ONE.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
SINGAPORE - She is a rising young star and one of the most recognisable faces in women's mixed martial arts (MMA) in Asia. But do not expect Angela Lee to make the leap from Asia-based promotion ONE Championship to the big leagues anytime soon.

In fact, talk of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) - the world's biggest MMA promotion that is based in Las Vegas, United States - annoys the 21-year-old.

Perhaps UFC senior vice-president of international and content Joe Carr's previous comments about the huge gap between Lee and UFC's top female fighters had riled the Canadian-born fighter, who is of Singaporean-Korean parentage. Responding to a question from TODAY on the possibility of her joining the UFC stable, she said on the sidelines of the Mediacorp Meet & Greet with One heroes on Friday (Oct 6): "I'm a little bit offended when someone brings that (UFC) up. ONE are doing an amazing job and I wouldn't leave them for another organisation.

"(ONE Championship) is a prestigious organisation and I'm happy to be fighting in it. What I'm looking to do is make the most of my time in my career, and really enjoy what I do. I want to keep improving my skill set as a fighter, and keep my undefeated record."

Lee, who holds the ONE Championship women's atomweight belt, will be aiming to extend her 8-0 perfect record in a rematch against Japan's Mei Yamaguchi at the ONE: Immortal Pursuit at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Nov 24. In May 2016, Lee won her first career title when she defeated Yamaguchi in a battle that went the full five rounds.

The Hawaii-based fighter went on to defend her title twice against Taiwan's Jenny Huang and Istela Nunes of Brazil, and there will be much more at stake for the MMA superstar next month as she faces Yamaguchi in the cage once again.

Yamaguchi, the more seasoned fighter with a record of 16 wins (two knockouts and seven submissions) and 10 losses will be out for blood this time, but Lee is confident that she will prevail against the 34-year-old.

"Our first match was spectacular, and I'm excited about meeting her again," Lee said.

"I've had more time in the cage, two title fights...I feel more confident. I didn't show my full potential in our first fight and I want to be able to do that.

"I know she's been working on her grappling so I'm preparing slightly differently. I last fought her a year and a half ago, so I've had a lot of time to train and improve my technique. I'm looking to go inside the cage and finish her (off)."

Lee will headline one of two title fights at ONE: Immortal Pursuit next month, with ONE Championship welterweight champion Ben Askren set for his final career fight on Nov 24 against Shinya Aoki, a former lightweight champion. The 33-year-old American, who holds a 17-0 undefeated record, will be joining ONE Championship as an executive after his retirement.

Singaporean fans will also get a triple treat in November, with three local fighters - Amir Khan, May Ooi, and Tiffany Teo - set to compete on home ground at the indoor stadium this time.

While details of their opponents have not been announced, Khan and Ooi are ready to give the home fans a fight night to remember.

Khan, who has eight wins and two losses under his belt, is hopeful that victory on Nov 24 will set him up for a title challenge in the future. "I feel good, and I feel my performance this time will be different as I want to show everyone what I'm capable of," said the 22-year-old.

"I love the atmosphere of the Singapore crowd, the energy from the fans, and they always scream for you and I feed off their energy.

"I am aiming to get the lightweight world title and be a multiple champion. I hope to fight (Filipino reigning champion) Eduard Folayang next...I need to pull off consecutive wins and my performance has to be impressive. I'm really focused and I'm determined to get this fight."

Like Khan, former national swimmer turned MMA athlete Ooi is also hopeful of securing a title fight in One Championship soon. The 41-year-old strawweight fighter made a dream debut in ONE Championship's Quest for Greatness in Kuala Lumpur in August, choking out home favourite Ann Osman to clinch victory at the Stadium Negara.

Ooi, a multiple SEA Games gold medallist in the pool, is relishing the opportunity to perform in front of a home crowd again after her last Rebel FC fight at the indoor stadium in 2014.

Ooi also competed alongside local swimming golden girl Joscelin Yeo at the 1993 SEA Games here, and she laughed as she recalled her experience then.

"At the SEA Games in 1993, Joscelin and I swam so many events and we were expected to sweep the medals. I was only 16 then and the pressure was immense," she said.

"Now it's just one fight, it's very different. People have been asking me when I'm fighting in Singapore...I'm excited and I think it's long overdue.

"I'm feeling really good, and feeling very confident coming off a big win in Kuala Lumpur. It's been a long time coming, and I expect good support from the fans."

* Visit www.onefc.com for more information on the Nov 24 fight, ONE: Immortal Pursuit

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
SINGAPORE - She is a rising young star and one of the most recognisable faces in women's mixed martial arts (MMA) in Asia. But do not expect Angela Lee to make the leap from Asia-based promotion ONE Championship to the big leagues anytime soon.

# data[].attributes.body
National rower, Saiyidah Aisyah, to take an indefinite break from competitive sport to rest and recover, but she's has no intentions of retiring just yet and plans to compete in Tokyo 2020.

The article recounted on her journey to Rio being a really tough journey as she used up all her savings and relied on crowd funding to raise money for both her expenses and training for the Olympics.

Being a national athlete representing the country, I feel that there should have been more spontaneous support for them to pursue the sport rather than supporting them only after they have shown results.

This is an example of Organisation as Political System. Why do some sports receive fundings so readily while others do not? Different agendas perhaps? In addition, a NSA should be standing behind and supporting their athletes all the way. Why would SRA complain against her in the news? Perhaps there could have been a more subtle method of resolve than going straight to the media.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
SINGAPORE - It sits between her collarbones, a simple silver pendant bearing the Olympic five rings. Once a reminder of her 2016 Rio Olympic goal, the necklace weighs heavy on national rower Saiyidah Aisyah Mohd Rafa'ee's neck now.

While it once motivated her on her road to Rio, it now reminds Aisyah of Tokyo 2020, a dream she has put on hold after deciding to take an indefinite break from competitive rowing.

But the necklace is not about to come off - despite her boyfriend's urging - for the Olympic rower is not ready to step away completely from the sport that has been a huge part of her life since 2004.

There were no tears as Aisyah spoke to TODAY in an exclusive interview about her decision, but there was certainly wistfulness, as the 29-year-old talked about struggling to find motivation to carry on after achieving her dream of representing Singapore at the Olympic Games.

"Since 2013, I've competed none-stop at the SEA Games, Asian Games, Olympic Games and other races," she said.

"Even after the Olympics, I didn't really have a proper break and I went off to race at the Asian Championships. I felt guilty taking a break...I think I could have been burnt out, and it's a lesson I learnt."

The post-Olympics hangover experienced by some athletes, including American great Michael Phelps and national swimmer Joseph Schooling - who won a historic gold in the men's 100m butterfly in Brazil - also caught up with Aisyah after Rio.

She added: "After the Olympics, I went to read stories of other athletes who faced post-Olympics (hangover), and I thought I was prepared. But after the Olympics, I struggled with what I want to do with my life.

"Whenever I got into the boat, the drive wasn't there. I was so frustrated when I went back in the boat and I wasn't improving. For the first few months of 2017, I struggled with whether to continue...after sitting on it, I realised my performance was not going anywhere and I made the decision in June (to give up her SpexScholarship)."

Coming to a decision about her future was not an easy one for Aisyah, who has been the face of Singapore rowing since the 2013 SEA Games, where she won a historic first-ever gold medal for Singapore in the women's 2,000m lightweight single sculls.

Her road to Rio also captured many Singaporean hearts, after the 29-year-old used up all her savings last year and took to crowd-funding to raise money for her training and living expenses in Sydney to fund her Olympic dream. She eventually raised S$14,000, and her finances improved after she was awarded the SpexScholarship, which provides athletes with stipends and other support to help them achieve success at the Asian, world and Olympic level.

Those following her qualification campaign for Rio were also kept on the edge of their seats, after she failed to make the 'A' final at the qualifier - which would have earned her an automatic spot - in Chungju, South Korea. With just one shot left in the 'B' final, the rower claimed the final ticket to Brazil by finishing first in the race to clinch the seventh and final spot for Asia in her event. Aisyah, who was the first Singaporean rower to compete at the Olympics - put in a creditable performance at the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon, finishing sixth in the quarterfinals.

Her tale of overcoming the odds has inspired many young Singaporeans, but it has also become a burden. "I wanted to keep my decision low key because I was afraid of what people might think," she told TODAY.

"I didn't want to disappoint them, especially Singaporeans who helped me in my journey with the crowd-funding. Finally I realised I needed to tell my story because I felt that people need to know, and it's unfair if I just leave."

Her indecision also led to a misunderstanding with the Singapore Rowing Association (SRA). SRA president Nicholas Ee had complained in The New Paper report last week that Aisyah did not sign the SRA athletes' agreement nor provide training reports while she was training overseas before the Olympics.

Admitting that there was "tension" with the SRA, Aisyah said: "There is some tension with SRA because I wasn't straight with them, and I wasn't able to decide what I wanted to do, and that caused miscommunication.

"But I hope to work with them to develop the sport, as I really want to help the sport and it has so much potential. After Rio, I realised what makes me happy is that I get to inspire, motivate people. I want to develop that part of myself."

THE NEXT STEP

Like many other professional athletes, Aisyah struggled to find her identity outside of the sport that she has been associated with for over a decade. But she has since channeled her energies into another sport, triathlon, and even took part in the Tri-Factor Triathlon two months ago.

She added: "I tried to up to put a stupid brave front, trying to show people that everything's ok. I struggled to find myself out of rowing because people know me as a rower....but now I consider myself human first, and rower second. This is the chance for me to develop other parts of my life."

While she participates in triathlon for leisure, her natural competitive streak honed from growing up in a family of four brothers creeps in occasionally, to the annoyance of her boyfriend, Briton Robert Rexworthy. Aside from triathlons and road cycling, she continues to train - albeit less intensively - in rowing, and will be representing Easter Rowing Club in a meet in Hong Kong at the end of the month. She has also taken up coaching courses, and plans to set up a rowing club in the future to introduce more people to the sport.

Time away from her rowing boat has also allowed her to spend more time with her family, particularly her mother, a divorcee who was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer last year.

"I've been neglecting my family so much...My mum was diagnosed with breast cancer right before the Olympics," she said.

"I wanted to come home but she told me not to because I was so focused on the Olympics. I felt so guilty, so I make up for it by spending time with her now...making her walk with me while I run."

She added, with a laugh: "I don't need to convince her to exercise, I just make her step on the weighing scale!"

BACK IN THE BOAT

Since stepping away from competitive rowing, Aisyah has shed five kg from her previously muscular, 72-kg frame - she had to gain bulk in order to compete in a heavier weight class for the Olympics.

She may be grateful that she can now fit into her clothes from her pre-Olympics days, but Aisyah is not ready to shed her dream of competing in the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Insisting that she is not ready to retire, Aisyah said: "I don't know what the future holds, but I want to continue doing what makes me happy, instead of doing what makes others happy.

"I want to be there in 2020, but the passion, motivation and drive has to be there. I have to rediscover it, and I think I will find it. I still have two Olympic cycles left in me, it's whether I'm ready to make the sacrifices.

"I don't know how long I'll take to find the drive, but I believe it will find it someday."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
I've not given up on rowing, says Olympic athlete Aisyah

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
SINGAPORE - It sits between her collarbones, a simple silver pendant bearing the Olympic five rings. Once a reminder of her 2016 Rio Olympic goal, the necklace weighs heavy on national rower Saiyidah Aisyah Mohd Rafa'ee's neck now.

# data[].attributes.body
Introduction
Sport and politics collide head-on with each other in the lead-up to the NRL grand final. This stadium issue has been there for a long time. A confidential building assessment said that Allianz Stadium would struggle to cope with a serious emergency. However, it is still hosting major sporting events. If there are indeed critical safety issues, why have these not been addressed earlier? The government instead wants ANZ Stadium to be overhauled first as it was the former Olympic venue. There is big money involved as the National Rugby League (NRL) has grand finals held there and Football Federation Australia (FFA) is hosting the women's World Cup in 2023.

Metaphor
The metaphor which is displayed so clearly throughout the article is  "Organizations as Political Systems", because different groups have differing agendas. Safety is not their priority. Profit-making is. The Australian government needs to put its foot in and make a call, in the midst of demanding wishes of the sporting codes.

Takeaway
Politics is everywhere. The author says it well that keeping politics out of sport is a laughing matter. To satisfy everyone's wish and whim is not possible, as people have different expectations and different agendas. The government must be strong and see what is most needful for the good of athletes and spectators. Safety must not be compromised. Ethics must be held high as well, so that other countries can respect the government and want to do business with the country. The same truth applies in any organization, even in schools where we teach and work.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
When it came down to it, FC Barcelona - mes que un club, remember - could not bring themselves to go all in. The threatened loss of six points - three for the defaulted match, three more as a penalty - was enough to persuade them to stage their match against Las Palmas behind locked doors in a deserted Camp Nou, while outside the streets of the city rang with the echoes of violent confrontations between police and voters in an independence referendum ruled illegal by the national government.

The club's decision was an important one. Barça is a powerful international symbol of Catalan identity. A refusal to play Sunday's match would have added tinder to the fire of the independence movement. But they compete in a league where their final standing against Real Madrid has been measured in the last three seasons by two points, one point and three points. So they took the safer option, leaving Gerard Piqué who has never made a secret of his Catalan pride, to join up with the Spain squad and face uncomfortable questions about divided loyalties.

Meanwhile, fans who had voted for independence pointed to the example of Welsh clubs competing in the English league as evidence that independence from Spain would not have to mean ejection from La Liga. Few would want an entirely autonomous Catalonia to incorporate a future of Barça competing in a domestic mini-league made up by FC Girona, Gimnàstic de Tarragona and Lleida Esportiu.

Keep politics out of sport? Don't make me laugh. Politics infiltrates sport at all levels. Think about the decision to start next year's Giro d'Italia in Israel. For one partner in the deal, that's obviously a matter of money - €17m, apparently. For the other, it represents valuable image-polishing. This is not quite the same as launching the Tour de France in Yorkshire, which was not, the last time I looked, surrounded by walls aimed at keeping out people from Lancashire or County Durham. Or there's Qatar, whose appalling treatment of migrant workers on the 2022 World Cup stadiums was exposed - not for the first time - by Human Rights Watch this week. Do we really think the Qataris are investing so heavily in football, at home and abroad, out of a sheer love of the game?

The coming days might tell us whether FC Barcelona has a further role to play in the dramatic reawakening of old regional tensions and whether the events of Sunday will join the line of football matches that played a part in shaping history, a phenomenon that could be said to have begun in 1969 with a conflict between El Salvador and Honduras that became known as the Football War.

Tensions between the two countries had been heightened by the migration to Honduras of hundreds of thousands of Salvadorans, leaving a country one-fifth the size of its neighbour but with a population 40% greater, prompting the Honduran government to enact reforms intended to keep land out of the hands of immigrant farmers while expelling Salvadoran labourers. The fuse for open conflict was lit when the two countries met in the qualifying tournament for the 1970 World Cup.

The first match was held in the Honduran capital, Tegucigalpa, where the visiting players were kept awake by crowds letting off firecrackers and breaking windows in their hotel. The home team won by a single goal, prompting an 18-year-old girl watching at home in El Salvador to take her father's pistol from his desk and shoot herself dead. Amelia Bolianos was given a state funeral, her coffin accompanied by the president of the republic and the players of the football team.

When Honduras arrived in San Salvador for the return leg a week later, the welcome included rotten eggs and dead rats thrown through their hotel windows. They made their way to the Flor Blanca stadium in armoured cars, passing through angry crowds holding portraits of the dead girl. El Salvador won this one 3-0, which meant that the tie progressed to a play-off on neutral ground in Mexico City. El Salvador won 3-2 with an extra-time goal from their right-winger, "Pipo" Rodríguez, a qualified civil engineer, a few hours after their government had dissolved diplomatic relationships with Honduras in protest against further mass expulsions.

Two weeks later the Salvadoran army and air force launched an invasion which drew a swift response. The war lasted 100 hours and killed 3,000 people, the majority of them civilians, before both sides obeyed a ceasefire call from the Organisaton of American States. Three months later El Salvador beat Haiti in a play-off to reach the 1970 finals in Mexico, where they lost all three of their group matches.

Twenty years later Red Star Belgrade travelled to meet Dinamo Zagreb in a Yugoslavian league fixture in the midst of rising fervour among Serb and Croat nationalists. Rioting between the home fans and 3,000 visiting supporters continued during the match itself and the game was on the verge of being abandoned, with several players having made it to the safety of the dressing rooms, when Zvonimir Boban, the Dinamo playmaker, kicked a police officer. Although criminal charges were brought and a suspension cost Boban his place in Yugoslavia's team at the 1990 World Cup finals, his gesture made him a folk hero to his fellow Croats during the bloody war that raged from 1991 to 1995, by which time he was starring for Milan and sending part of his salary back home to help the fight against Serbia.

Back in Mexico City, the black-gloved fists of Tommie Smith and John Carlos in 1968 and the raised hand of Diego Maradona in 1986 were political statements, the first an explicit protest against racial injustice in the United States and the second an implicit response to England's victory in the Falklands War. Two years ago the flag of a notional "Greater Albania" was flown from a drone into the Belgrade stadium where Serbia and Albania were playing in a Euro 2016 qualifying match, provoking fights among players and fans that led to the match being abandoned.

Like those examples, last weekend's Barcelona affair and Donald Trump's continuing assault on the take-a-knee movement in the NFL show that sport cannot seal itself off from the stresses and strains of the real world. From the anti-apartheid boycotts of the 1960s to the demonstrations against holding a grand prix in Bahrain, it offers a useful theatre for protest. And those who complain about the temporary inconvenience are seldom on the side of the angels.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Keep politics out of sport? Don't make me laugh | Richard Williams

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
When it came down to it, FC Barcelona - mes que un club, remember - could not bring themselves to go all in.

# data[].attributes.body
Introduction
Male and female football players will be paid equally for representing Norway. The doubling of the remuneration pot for the women will come from the male players' contribution, which is money from the commercial activities undertaken as part of the national teams. The female footballers are overjoyed because they feel respected for being 'treated equally' and some are relieved as they are working and studying while playing football professionally.

Metaphor
This is a great political move which recognizes the gender equality in practical terms. Many countries are expected to zoom into this issue and make amendments to their current remuneration system to better reflect gender equality. The metaphor which I relate this article to is "Organizations as Organisms", because its effectiveness is dependent upon the interplay between equal remuneration and players' performance. If the management ignores this gender inequality, the female players will continue to feel disrespected or inferior, resulting in poor performance.

Takeaway
When the top management finds disparity in any aspect of the organization, they must quickly and tactfully deal with it. By ignoring it, the people will feel disengaged and psychologically unsafe. This internal turmoil will soon present itself in a deadly force that can destroy the organization. On the other hand, by tackling the issue head-on in a wise and thorough process, people feel supported and want to work above their expectations to advance the organization's mission.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
REUTERS: A new agreement between Norway's football association and the country's international players will lead to men and women receive the same financial compensation for representing their country, with the men making a financial contribution to the women's team.

In what players' union boss Joachim Walltin believes to be the first deal of its kind, the Norwegian FA has announced that it is almost doubling the remuneration pot for the women, from 3.1 million Norwegian crowns (US$388,000) to a total of 6 million crowns.

This includes a contribution of 550,000 crowns by the male players, money they currently receive for commercial activities undertaken as part of the national teams.

"Norway is a country where equal standing is very important for us, so I think it is good for the country and for the sport," Walltin added.

Norway's equality deal comes at a time when the disparity between the money and conditions of male and female players is a topical issue.

Denmark recently cancelled a home women's friendly against Netherlands due to a dispute over money, and Irish female players were told to change into their tracksuits in toilets as their kit had to be shared with under-age teams.

"In Denmark they are still negotiating and in the U.S. things have improved, but we might be the only country where they are treated equally," Halltin said.

National team winger Caroline Graham Hansen took to Instagram to thank her male colleagues for their donation.

"Thank you for making this step for female athletes. For showing equality and helping us all, making it a bit easier, to chase our dreams," she wrote alongside a picture of the men's side.

Walltin said the details were still to be ironed out but that it was likely that female players would receive a monthly sum dependent on how many national team squads they took part in, while the men would receive their money annually.

"For the girls, it will certainly make a difference," Walltin said. "Some of them are actually working and studying, as well as playing football, and it's hard to improve then."

Walltin said that the improved financial conditions were only one aspect of the deal that appealed to the female players.

"The feeling of being really respected is very important for them. The federation can see it as an investment to increase the level of the women's team," he said.

(Reporting by Philip O'Connor in Stockholm, editing by Ed Osmond)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Norway to pay male and female internationals equally

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
REUTERS: A new agreement between Norway's football association and the country's international players will lead to men and women receive the same financial compensation for representing their country, with the men making a financial contribution to the women's team.

# data[].attributes.body
Mr Carlos Nuzman, Head of Brazilian's Olympic committee, was suspended and currently being investigated for his alleged corruption practices due to a cash-for-votes probe linked to the bid for the 2016 Rio Games. He led the Brazil Olympic Committee successfully from 1995 in leading Rio's bid to the 2016 Olympic Games, however not for the interest of the country but for his personal agenda.

The Brazil Olympic Committee was seen as an instrument of domination because Carlos Nuzam was using his position as the head of the Olympic committee in an unorthodox way to gain the support of influential people (Lamine Diack, head of IAAF). He was suspected of bribing a member of the IOC with $2M. Other members of the committee also profited in the process, and this clearly shows the deceitful intention of the Brazil Olympic committee when they first bidded for the hosting of Rio Games.

My main takeaway for mega sports events like the Olympics are that there are definitely people who will resort to unscrupulous means to profit from the event, treating the event like a "business opportunity" rather than an event to gather like-minded elite athletes to compete in an international platform.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has suspended its Brazilian arm amid an investigation into corruption allegations.

It also suspended the head of Brazil's Olympic committee, Carlos Nuzman, as an honorary member, and has frozen all its payments to the body.

Mr Nuzman was arrested on Thursday and is being investigated as part of a cash-for-votes probe linked to the bid for the 2016 Rio Games.

He denies all wrongdoing.

The IOC said Brazil's athletes would not be affected and they will continue to be paid.

They will also still be allowed to compete in the Winter Games in South Korea in February.

Leonardo Gryner, the Brazilian committee's director general, was also arrested on Thursday.

The inquiry - known as Operation Unfair Play - is being conducted in conjunction with French and US police.

In September, Mr Nuzman's home was searched. He was questioned and had his passport seized.

Brazilian prosecutors believe he acted as an intermediary in an alleged $2m (£1.5m) payment to Papa Massata Diack, the son of an influential Senegalese member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

It is alleged that this was done to secure the vote of Lamine Diack, who was then serving as the head of the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF).

All parties have denied the allegations.

Mr Nuzman, 72, led the committee from 1995 and headed Rio's successful bid to host the 2016 Games.

A statement from Mr Nuzman's lawyer, released last month, read: "The entire journey of the Rio Olympics, from the bid to the closing ceremony, was conducted within the law."

In June, former Rio State Governor Sergio Cabral was jailed for 14 years after participating in the embezzlement of $64m from construction contracts, including the renovation of Rio's Maracana stadium, where the 2016 opening and closing ceremonies were held.

French prosecutors announced last year that they were widening their investigation into corruption in athletics to include the bidding-and-voting processes for the hosting of the 2016 and 2020 Olympics.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Olympic Committee suspends Brazilian arm

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has suspended its Brazilian arm amid an investigation into corruption allegations. It also suspended the head of Brazil's Olympic committee, Carlos Nuzman, as an honorary member, and has frozen all its payments to the body.

# data[].attributes.body
National athlete Soh Rui Yong says he retained his SEA Games marathon gold "without any coaching help" from Singapore Athletics. That is one of the reasons the 26-year-old is chafing at having to donate $2,000 to SA, which governs local track and field.

I'd rather the $2,000 go to my coach. The bulk of public funding I received to train for the SEA Games came from the SSI (Singapore Sports Institute), not SA.

The article focuses on Rui Yong (individual) and a little on the local athletics fraternity (small groups within the organisation).

The SA president insisted that SA has been funding its athletes (characteristics of work environment).

One other grouse (unhappiness similar to job satisfaction) is the infighting that plagued the local athletics fraternity over the past year.
Organisational behaviour is observed in this article.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
National athlete Soh Rui Yong says he retained his SEA Games marathon gold "without any coaching help" from Singapore Athletics (SA) ahead of last month's biennial event in Kuala Lumpur.

That is one of the reasons the 26-year-old is chafing at having to donate $2,000 to SA, which governs local track and field.

He told The Straits Times (ST) yesterday: "As a marathon runner who has now won the (SEA Games) gold twice, I have done it without any coaching help from SA. I'd rather the $2,000 go to my coach (American Ben Rosario), who has helped me way more than most SA administrators have."

"The bulk of public funding I received to train for the SEA Games came from the SSI (Singapore Sports Institute), not SA."

As an individual SEA Games champion, he will receive $10,000 under the Multi-Million Dollar Award Programme (MAP), which provides a cash payout to athletes who win medals at the Olympic, Asian, Commonwealth and SEA Games. For the Olympic, Asian and SEA Games, they have to donate 20 per cent of the MAP awards to their respective federations for future training and development. The quantum for the Commonwealth Games is 50 per cent.

Soh estimates that he forked out over $2,000 of his own money to train for the SEA Games.

One other grouse is the infighting that plagued the local athletics fraternity over the past year. Soh pointed out: "SA should be supporting athletes morally as well."

SA president Ho Mun Cheong does not object to allowing Soh to retain the entire sum as long as the relevant authorities are in agreement. But he insisted that SA has been funding its athletes.

Soh is slated to receive a $1,200 monthly allowance from the association this year in quarterly disbursements. The sum adds up to $10,800 for the year so far. To date, Soh has received $7,200 from SA this year. ST understands that SA has also disbursed at least $50,000 over the past three years to Soh and his former coach Ian Dobson.

Ho said: "We always support all our athletes as we want them to get exposure and good competition experience, and to encourage youth development."

Correction note: This story has been edited to clarify that Soh is slated to receive a $1,200 monthly allowance from Singapore Athletics (SA) this year in quarterly disbursements. The sum adds up to $10,800 for the year so far. To date, Soh has received $7,200 from SA this year.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Athletics: Soh Rui Yong says he had no coaching help from Singapore Athletics ahead of SEA Games

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
National athlete Soh Rui Yong says he retained his SEA Games marathon gold "without any coaching help" from Singapore Athletics (SA) ahead of last month's biennial event in Kuala Lumpur. That is one of the reasons the 26-year-old is chafing at having to donate $2,000 to SA, which governs local track and field.

# data[].attributes.body
Singapore's contract with Formula One Grand Prix is about to end since the first night race started on the island in 2008. Singapore Grand Prix announced to continue hosting for another 4 years.
Functioning like organisations as machines (pun unintended), Singapore Grand Prix is made up of interrelated parts such food and beverage, hospitality, retail, logistics and event management.

Over the years, the nature of the event enables firms to learn through experience and to innovate such as come up with new temporary dining structures and reconfigured container kitchens, providing fresh dining concepts for race patrons, therefore, it's a reflection of newer, better, fresher.

Service companies grew better at collaborating with each other, and service providers continue to reinvent and refine their processes to be more efficient and effective, from 12 days of road closure for the first race in 2008, the process was halved to just six days, from circuit set-up to ticketing and security services, things move like clockwise which is a very telling feature of organisations as machines.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
It was announced yesterday that Singapore will continue to host the Formula One Grand Prix for four years after the current contract ends this year.

Amid the negotiations over a renewal, some have cast attention on the weak attendance last year. The three-day event in 2016 saw the lowest ticket sales to date, with an average of 73,000 spectators a day - down 15 per cent from the inaugural year.

However, we should be careful not to overstate the significance of last year's poor attendance. Prior to 2016, spectator numbers in the three years before - from 2013 to 2015 - were the highest in the Singapore Grand Prix's history since 2008. Since the first night race was held here in 2008 till 2015, it has attracted some 350,000 international visitors, representing 40 per cent of all spectators. These visitors have brought in about $150 million in tourist dollars each year, with the exception being 2009 due to the global financial crisis.

Being an F1 host has other benefits.

First, the Singapore Grand Prix has a direct spillover effect for a wide range of industries - from tourism-related sectors such as food and beverage, hospitality and retail to auxiliary services such as logistics and event management. The night race brings more consumers to the event area and creates demand for services. Small and medium-sized enterprises are sub-contractors for about 90 per cent of the race organisation works each year, from circuit set-up to ticketing and security services.

Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg in action at the F1 Singapore Grand Prix last September, when he won in Singapore for the first time. The Grand Prix is a three-day mega event with festivities ranging from concerts featuring international artists to Michelin-starred feasts. NP FILE PHOTO

Second, the annual nature of the event enables firms to learn through experience and to innovate. For instance, over several years of supplying catering equipment to the event, kitchen solutions firm Steward's Solution has come up with new temporary dining structures and reconfigured container kitchens, providing fresh dining concepts for race patrons each year. Service companies have also grown better at collaborating with each other. Players in the entertainment industry have had a chance to test-bed new concepts.

The Singapore Grand Prix is not just for sports fans. Its wide appeal is on two levels, namely the accessibility of F1 racing as a sport and the multifaceted nature of the event itself. Tennis or golf tournaments, for example, appeal more to enthusiasts who are interested in the sport itself. However, the F1 race is a spectator sport for all, regardless of whether they know the teams, drivers or even the rules.

The improvement is also clear from the perspective of the general public. From 12 days of road closure for the first race in 2008, the process has now been halved to just six days. If Singapore continues to host the F1, service providers will be able to continue reinventing and refining their processes to be more efficient and effective.

Third, the Singapore Grand Prix has a strong brand effect for the country, reinforcing Singapore's presence and reputation on the world stage. Anecdotally, when businessmen in China hear that their interlocutor is from Singapore, a common first reaction is: "Oh, you have that F1 race!"

Fourth, the Singapore Grand Prix is not just for sports fans. Its wide appeal is on two levels, namely the accessibility of F1 racing as a sport and the multifaceted nature of the event itself. Tennis or golf tournaments, for example, appeal more to enthusiasts who are interested in the sport itself. However, the F1 race is a spectator sport for all, regardless of whether they know the teams, drivers or even the rules.

In Singapore, there have also been numerous community events organised throughout the year to engage the public and youth, including school visits and behind-the-scenes tours. The Grand Prix is a three-day mega event with festivities ranging from concerts featuring international artists to Michelin-starred feasts.

Fifth, the Singapore Grand Prix party provides a perfect opportunity for firms, such as banks, to invite and host their top clients. These networking gatherings could lead to business deals being generated or closed.

Singapore needs to keep its line-up of events fresh to attract different groups of people. For example, the United States already boasts a drone racing league. Drone racing in sports stadiums here could appeal to spectators, local and foreign alike.

An active and busy event calendar throughout the year would not only help Singapore to attract tourists but also reduces the impact of seasonality on businesses, such as hotels' occupancy and room rates.

With the F1 contract now renewed, the Republic will continue to benefit from the undeniable advantages of hosting such mega events.

Francis Tan is an economist at UOB, James Walton is the sports business group leader at Deloitte Singapore & South-east Asia.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
It was announced yesterday that Singapore will continue to host the Formula One Grand Prix for four years after the current contract ends this year. Amid the negotiations over a renewal, some have cast attention on the weak attendance last year.

# data[].attributes.body
PE & English teacher

I come with an open and empty mind, ready to learn.

# data[].attributes.body
mind in a blank. so no pictures...trying to focus after a long day at work.
working in singapore polytechnic, student development and alumni relations department.

# data[].attributes.body
PE Teacher at Jurong Junior College... my classes in my school end at 6pm, thus I will probably be late on most days. I apologise in advance.

# data[].attributes.body
PE Teacher at SAJC

# data[].attributes.body
Having fun with xiao cha bor daughter

# data[].attributes.body
PE Teacher - Happy Children’s Day!

# data[].attributes.body
PE Tr in Lakeside Primary School

Happy that tomorrow is School Holiday!!!

# data[].attributes.body
Primary School PE Teacher
Looking forward to completing this Semester and a trip to Nepal in Dec WoOhOoO

# data[].attributes.body
PE Teacher in NUS High School for 5 years.
Feeling sleepy. Need sleep badly.

# data[].attributes.body
PE teacher at Primary School

The butterfly and flower brighten up my day.

# data[].attributes.body
STEM educator

Holiday!!

# data[].attributes.body
STEM educator at Montfort Sec
Teach science. Ditto Aylwin.

# data[].attributes.body
Gymnastics Coach & Personal Trainer

Sleepy..many assignment deadlines

# data[].attributes.body
PE teacher
tired....
need some oxygen

# data[].attributes.body
PE Teacher

Long Weekend!!

# data[].attributes.body
PE lecturer at ITE College Central.

# data[].attributes.body
Takeaway: The footballers, clubs and the S.League rely on the environment for survival (organisations as organisms) jljjpjp jjpjp
fdsafdsfd asdfdaa asdfk adsfadsf adsf ads fadsdas adsf ads  adfs ...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
SINGAPORE - Already plagued by poor attendance and financial woes, the ailing S.League could be dealt yet another blow next season, as the professional league could see an exodus of its top footballers due to the impending funding cuts to the clubs.

TODAY has learnt that five national team players - who are currently playing in the S.League - are looking to leave Singapore to ply their trade overseas, and several more have expressed their interest in moving abroad. Local football agent Abdul Halim Abdul Shukor told TODAY that some footballers here are worried that their salaries could be slashed next season due to the S.League's potential budget cuts, and five players have entrusted him to help them find a foreign club in Malaysia or Thailand.

"Some of these players are currently earning over S$10,000 a month, so they're worried that a drastic drop in their salaries could affect their livelihoods," said Halim on Monday (Oct 2).

While Halim declined to name his clients, citing confidential negotiations. TODAY understands that the clients in his stable have each earned more than 30 caps for Singapore, with the most experienced player chalking up over 100 international appearances.

Halim said he expects to close deals for two of the footballers in "a few weeks". He is eyeing clubs in Malaysia and Thailand for his clients, taking advantage of new rules in the two countries' leagues that will require clubs to sign at least one South-east Asian footballer if they wish to fill their foreign players quota. He is confident of securing clubs for the other players by the end of the year, which is usually when contract negotiations for the Malaysian and Thai leagues begin.

He added: "With the new regulations, the Malaysian league is definitely a good prospect for Singapore footballers...The Thai players are already less likely to go there since the contracts in their domestic league are already very high.

"Of course it'll be a bit harder for these players, as they'll be living and working in a different culture, and they must work harder than what they're used to now. But I believe they're ready."

If Halim is successful, the exodus of some of the S.League's top footballers will almost certainly have a significant impact on a league that is struggling to attract fans to the stadiums. While the S.League saw huge crowds in its early years when it was launched in 1996, crowd attendances have been dwindling for years, with an average of just hundreds turning out for games.

News of funding cuts to the S.League - the Republic's only professional sports league - next season had emerged last month, with media reports stating that Tote Board funding would be slashed by almost half from S$16 million to S$8.5 million. Six local clubs in the nine-team league will be affected as a large portion of their annual budgets of between S$1.2 and S$1.5 million come from the Tote Board. The subsidies, which amount to S$800,000 a year for each club, go towards paying the players' salaries and other operating expenses. The drastic cuts will further impact the clubs financially after the Ministry of Home Affairs annnounced in July measures to tighten the regulation of jackpot operations in sports clubs.

Despite the gloom facing the S.League clubs, members of the local football fraternity told TODAY that the players' move abroad can only be a boon for Singapore football.

"Of course you want your league to have the best players, but then our players can get more exposure playing overseas, said former Malaysian Cup winner Steven Tan.

"Getting to play under different coaches, learning different playing styles and observing different players in training... it will ultimately improve the national team."

Hougang United head coach Philippe Aw said the impending moves by the senior players will also provide the younger ones with more opportunities in the league.

"The thing is, if we want to improve local football, we need to have a bigger base of players," said Aw, who was Home United's youth coach from 2007 to 2012.

"There are a lot of young players who fall out of the system as they never get the opportunity to play in the S.League...this could be a chance for the younger players to step up, prove their worth and make a name for themselves."

Richard Bok, who coached SAFFC to four titles during his tenure, agreed with Aw's assessment, as he added: "Yes, the S.League will definitely see a drop in its standard for one to three years...but revamping the league and unearthing more young talent will be better for local football.

"The salary of one national player could maybe pay for two or three younger players... and with a larger talent pool, in the long term, the quality of Singapore football and the S.League will rise again."

Ex-national goalkeeper Lionel Lewis told TODAY that some of his friends are waiting to hear more about the potential budget cuts before deciding on whether to leave the S.League. He too agreed that the local football scene would benefit if more players plied their trade overseas.

"If they get an opportunity to play overseas, of course they should as it would help them to be better players," said Lewis.

"Of course, now you have to tell the S.League to reboot and think of new ways to improve our local footballers to draw back the fans.. and I believe that if measures are in place, over time, the S.League and local football will see better days."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
S.League footballers eyeing exit amid funding cuts to clubs

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
SINGAPORE - Already plagued by poor attendance and financial woes, the ailing S.League could be dealt yet another blow next season, as the professional league could see an exodus of its top footballers due to the impending funding cuts to the clubs.

# data[].attributes.headline
For the 5% from the second half of the module, you are expected to:

# data[].attributes.subject
For the 5% from the second half of the module, you are expected to:

# data[].attributes.body
A) Participate actively.

B) Present a recent piece of news (not more than 2 months from 5 Oct 2017) to illustrate a learning point / concept covered.
i) Start with a brief introduction that gives the context of the news.
ii) Next, explain the correlation between the contents in the news and the learning covered.
iii) Conclude with one main takeaway (i.e. what do you want the listeners to take home)
iv) The entire Pt B) requirements should be uploaded in https://padlet.com/angelakohtan/MES803_Aug17_Students . Please ensure your name is in the subject header e.g Ben Tan (1); Ben Tan (2)
v) There should be 2 entries per student (not more than 200 words each )and no duplication of the news. The deadline is 23:59 on 16 Nov 2017 after which the Padlet wall will be locked.