Saving the Best for the Last

The Games are practically over now. No more competition tmr, no medals to be given out tmr, all venues are being derigged. The shuttle buses between venues have operated their last day today, and only a few athletes still remain here in Singapore. Tomorrow is officially the final day of the Games, there's only the Closing Ceremony left on the schedule.

As the Games wears on, our spirits get lifted, our faces furnish more of smiles rather than tired frowns. We feel relieved that the Games is going to be over, and with that so does the craziness which everyone has been put through the past few months in preparing for the Games. At the same time, we glow in satisfaction, seeing the product of our hardwork. We are well aware that this Games has fallen short in many aspects of people's expectations, and it may not be that well organised in some parts. But hey, you know when was the previous time SIngapore organised a multi sport event of this sort? 1993! To put together a show in a short span of something less than a year is hard enough, to deliver a great show after 16 silent years is too much to expect isn't it?

I find it hard to find the reason why I love the nature of these multi sport, cross culture kind of Games. There's so much that I enjoy about it.

Quah TIng Wen & her girls will grab the headlines at home, and people will sing praises of our contingent's performance.Student volunteers will return to school and compare their collection of pins and post up facebook photos taken with the cute and handsome Koreans. I will hang up my accreditation pass, take a break, look forward to school.

What I will remember most to last through time will, incidentally be the last of the competition action at this Games. At a few minutes past 9pm, one hour after Ting Wen & Gals ended off the 5 days of swimming action on a high, and minutes after the Majulah Singapura was being played over at Bowling, I tuned in to the live streaming from Jalan Besar Stadium, where the football finals was being played. I watched the final minutes of the game between the 2 Koreas. I rested my chin on my hands as the final whistle was blown. What proceeded on after that got me all emotionally stirred up. After the customary handshakes, both sides mixed as they joined to form a line, and raised each others' hands to acknowledge the crowd. It all felt like they were a team. Not only that, the players from the South wrapped their arms around their neighbours affectionately, seemingly to tell everyone that they are brothers.

I hope the political leaders see that. The North may have lost out to the South, but I believe they've gained a kinship.

Thats the most beautiful thing that happened this Games.
vin