The National Games ( Wei Zihang)

Summary of article
SINGAPORE: Singapore’s newest community—bonding sports initiative — the National Games 2012 — was launched on Saturday.

The plan of the Singapore National Games is to mound society into one cohesive team through sports.

National athletes and non—citizens like permanent residents and those with work passes can also take part, but they will be capped at 20 percent of team members.

Dragon boating, football, bowling and athletics are among 10 events featured in the Games.

The aim is to bring competition into the heart of the community.

People Assocation’s (PA) deputy chairman Mr Lim Swee Say said: "There’s a saying that a family that eat together, stay together. And for us, in organising the Singapore National Games, we believe that Singaporeans who work together, live together, play together, will stay as one people, as one nation."

Allowing non—citizens into the Games — meant to bond Singaporeans — is perhaps an acknowledgement that sports needs to be more inclusive.

Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Mr Chan Chun Sing, said: "For anybody that has a role to play in the community and that stays in the community, we welcome them. Of course the majority of it will be Singaporeans. But then there are also other people living in our community that we want to embrace as well."

The Singapore National Games will be held once every two years.

Commentary

I also read another article which is entitled ‘National Games to bond Singaporeans’. This article mainly talks about the effect of the Singapore National Games to bond Singaporeans which was held recently. National athletes can take part and non-citizen like permanent residents, those with work passes also can do so. Dragon boating, football, bowling and athletics are among 10 events featured in the Games. The article mentions that the Singapore National Games will be held once every two years from now on and organizers want people of all ages and backgrounds to join. This year, the National Games has already finished and took place from 1-9 September.

Bonding is very important to countries, especially in multi-ethnic countries like Singapore. If bonding does not occur, the country does not have the potential to develop itself. In my opinion, the Singapore government is very successful in bonding Singapore by holding this National Games. The plan of the Singapore National Games is to mound society into one cohesive team through sports. Non-citizen like permanent residents and those with work passes can also take part as the government wants people from different races and religions to compete together so as to be more familiar with  each other. This is perhaps an acknowledgement that sports needs to be more inclusive. For anybody that has a role to play in the community and that stays in the community, the Games and the government welcomes them. Of course the majority of it will be Singaporeans, but then there are also other people living in our community that the government wants to embrace as well. There are also some events with ethnic characteristics in the Games, such as dragon boating. This event is from the culture of Chinese, so this can make people from other races to know more about the tradition of the Chinese and to understand the Chinese.  The People Association’s (PA) deputy chairman Mr. Lim Swee Say said: "There’s a saying that a family that eat together, stay together. And for us, in organizing the Singapore National Games, we believe that Singaporeans, who work together, live together, play together, and will stay as one people, as one nation." Since the National Games is so meaningful, I agree that Singapore government bonds its nation quite successfully.