I'm running on adrenaline the whole night. Left office only at 1am and had dinner only after I reached home. Why?
Cos I was covering the STTA press conference. Covering the conference is only half the excitement. I had to file 'live' report back to the station. It's my debut filing live and I felt the anxiousness from the moment I was told of the assignment as soon as I got into office today.
I have more or less been following the saga that had gone on for the Singapore Table Tennis team. The Gao Ning incident, Lee Bee Wah wanting to sack the manager, Head Coach Liu Guodong's job being on the line. It has gone on and on, casting a dark cloud on the Women's Team victorious return from the Beijing Olympics with the medal that Singapore has been waiting 48 years for.
And the media knows that the whole saga perpetuated BECOS of the media. I would not have known who Gao Ning and Yang Zi are if not for this saga. So in a way, it has risen the profile of the men's team which have been living under the shadow of the women's team for the longest time.
Anyway, yesterday's press conference was the first time I saw so much media at one event. Every single news platform was represented and each publication/platform had like 2 reporters, and there were at least 5 photog. We even had live feed back to the office. It felt like THE event to be at.
The Table Tennis Team were also there in full force. From the president to the coach and manager and everyone from the men's and women's team. And that was when I realised I have no idea who the reserve woman player is, what is her name. Nor the other male players other than Gao Ning and Yang Zi. It was as if if did not matter if they were there or not.
But seriously, I think it's time to let the matter rest and a more or less happy ending have been set. The men's team will get their own head coach, Liu Guodong will stay as the women's coach and manager Antony will move on to SNOC after he's done with matters pertaining to the Olympics at STTA.
And after tonight, I have new found respect for Dr Vivian and Teo Ser Luck, seeing that they have handled the situation pretty well and I think it's only right they called for the press con to set the matter to rest.
While I think my debut live report is far from perfect, not even good, and I had to race for time to release soundbites and packages for every hour after that, on an empty stomach, I felt a sense of satisfaction that is indescribable at the end of the day. I think I'm still on adrenaline rush now. Remnants of the chain of events that happened today. And this is how I'm reminded why I chose to do what I am doing now. This is job satisfaction.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
我看北京奥运
08年北京奥运会已经圆满落幕。届时，有种不舍。因为可以说今年的奥运是我最投入的一次。
今年的奥运在亚洲举行，而且又是中国。身为华侨的我，就已经有种自豪感，也更想去追踪关于主办奥运的一些周边新闻。加上没有时差，可以让我观赏到自己喜爱的项目。因此觉得奥运非常贴近自己。
而最重要的原因是，身为新闻工作者的我，追踪今年奥运成了工作的一部分。奥运开幕式当天我在工作，必须留意开幕式的点滴，制作成新闻。陶李游100米蝶泳决赛时，我也在工作，全新闻室的人都非常紧张地在关注她的表现。李佳薇打铜牌战时，我也在值班，关注她每一步的表现，希望她为新加坡再添一面奖牌。就算没有新加坡选手出赛，我还是可以大方的在办公室里看奥运转播，上网追踪奥运赛事，因为是工作的一部分。
我必须说，我给北京奥运的网站打101分，因为资讯确实非常的及时而且全面。很多时候当电视没有转播我国选手的塞程时，我们都是靠网站的及时赛况了解当下的赛况，而心情也会被网站上显示的分数牵动着。虽然只是看着数字在跳，但是全新闻室的同士还是非常的紧张，甚至比看现场转播还紧张。
这就是奥运的魅力。它可以让你屏气，让你心跳加速，让你雀跃也让你失望。最重要的是在观看比赛时，有很多时候我都被这些选手们感动了。为他们的努力，他们的成就或是他们坚持不懈地精神而感动了。这一面面金牌后面，包含着多少汗水，多少牺牲，多少人的期望。
新加坡拿到了跨别48年的奥运奖牌。4百万人，48年的期许，这奖牌意义非凡。感谢李佳薇、冯天薇和王越古3位乒乓女将为新加坡圆梦了。虽然她们原籍中国，但是我觉得在运动场上，运动精神第一。选手代表哪个国家还是其次。荣耀首先是运动员本身的。说奖牌是买来得也好，但看着她们穿上印着新加坡国旗的球衣奋战，还是带给新加坡人一种自豪感和观注赛事的动力，让新加坡人认识了乒乓这个运动。最重要的是，在他们身上我看到了她们对乒乓的热忱，还有她们最求梦想的执著。不是每个人都可以有这样的坚持，所以不管怎样，我还是很开心有这3位杰出的女将为新加坡争光。特别是冯天薇。在他身上看到顽强的心理素质，在落后时绝不服输。虽然没有看到她对垒张怡宁的女单复赛圈，但单看比数进展就令我非常敬佩。虽然最终是输了，但是每一局都不输超过2分。1分1分的紧扣着对方不放，这种精神让我为她感到骄傲，真的是虽败犹荣。这次奥运中应该没有另一个人让张怡宁打得如此辛苦，相信她是捏着冷汗打的。所以要向冯天薇敬礼！期待她将来再为新加坡争光！
今年的奥运在亚洲举行，而且又是中国。身为华侨的我，就已经有种自豪感，也更想去追踪关于主办奥运的一些周边新闻。加上没有时差，可以让我观赏到自己喜爱的项目。因此觉得奥运非常贴近自己。
而最重要的原因是，身为新闻工作者的我，追踪今年奥运成了工作的一部分。奥运开幕式当天我在工作，必须留意开幕式的点滴，制作成新闻。陶李游100米蝶泳决赛时，我也在工作，全新闻室的人都非常紧张地在关注她的表现。李佳薇打铜牌战时，我也在值班，关注她每一步的表现，希望她为新加坡再添一面奖牌。就算没有新加坡选手出赛，我还是可以大方的在办公室里看奥运转播，上网追踪奥运赛事，因为是工作的一部分。
我必须说，我给北京奥运的网站打101分，因为资讯确实非常的及时而且全面。很多时候当电视没有转播我国选手的塞程时，我们都是靠网站的及时赛况了解当下的赛况，而心情也会被网站上显示的分数牵动着。虽然只是看着数字在跳，但是全新闻室的同士还是非常的紧张，甚至比看现场转播还紧张。
这就是奥运的魅力。它可以让你屏气，让你心跳加速，让你雀跃也让你失望。最重要的是在观看比赛时，有很多时候我都被这些选手们感动了。为他们的努力，他们的成就或是他们坚持不懈地精神而感动了。这一面面金牌后面，包含着多少汗水，多少牺牲，多少人的期望。
新加坡拿到了跨别48年的奥运奖牌。4百万人，48年的期许，这奖牌意义非凡。感谢李佳薇、冯天薇和王越古3位乒乓女将为新加坡圆梦了。虽然她们原籍中国，但是我觉得在运动场上，运动精神第一。选手代表哪个国家还是其次。荣耀首先是运动员本身的。说奖牌是买来得也好，但看着她们穿上印着新加坡国旗的球衣奋战，还是带给新加坡人一种自豪感和观注赛事的动力，让新加坡人认识了乒乓这个运动。最重要的是，在他们身上我看到了她们对乒乓的热忱，还有她们最求梦想的执著。不是每个人都可以有这样的坚持，所以不管怎样，我还是很开心有这3位杰出的女将为新加坡争光。特别是冯天薇。在他身上看到顽强的心理素质，在落后时绝不服输。虽然没有看到她对垒张怡宁的女单复赛圈，但单看比数进展就令我非常敬佩。虽然最终是输了，但是每一局都不输超过2分。1分1分的紧扣着对方不放，这种精神让我为她感到骄傲，真的是虽败犹荣。这次奥运中应该没有另一个人让张怡宁打得如此辛苦，相信她是捏着冷汗打的。所以要向冯天薇敬礼！期待她将来再为新加坡争光！
Friday, August 15, 2008
on ndp and olympics and everything in between
finally.. a day of total slackness today after an exciting, and slightly exhausting week...
actually it's been an exciting day today just watching the semis of the Table Tennis Women's Team event. heart racing with each point they fall behind by. even tho none of them were born Singaporean, there is still this pride that they are going to give Singapore her first Olympics medal since independence. I guess it felt most close to heart as Li Jiawei was playing cos she felt the most Singaporean among all. Her 3rd time representing Singapore in Olympics. We've seen her grow in Table Tennis, saw her fall in and out of love, seen her at NDP saying the pledge... I guess it's these little things that made us (or me at least) to be able to acknowledge her as a Singaporean. I've nv even heard of Feng Tianwei and Wang Yuegu before this Olympics, so pardon me for not being able to feel for them, altho Feng did really well and is really the heroine for Singapore now. SILVER for Singapore!
on a separate note, I went to the Padang on National Day for the second year running, hoping to soak into some celebratory mood and of course to see the fireworks. did not start well cos it was raining, then there were these tentages blocking our view from the huge screen and finally, because of the rain earlier on, the air was really stagnant causing the smoke from the fireworks to not be able to disperse fast enough so we only managed to see the fireworks in the first 2 mins or so. the rest were all hidden behind thick smoke. still it wasn't a trip wasted cos I made a new fren! haha.. and she turned out to be my senior from DHS. the world is just too small. i think everyone in Singapore is probably just 3 degrees apart at the most. ha!
and on Sunday, I was at the 12 Lotus premiere. quite surprised to be sitting right behind the cast. well, can't help but want to compare it to 881 and after some long hard thinking, I still think I preferred 881, esp in terms of storyline, tho I think 12 Lotus does have great cinematography. 12 Lotus has a very solemn story definitely but I felt it did not develop very well and the characters do not resonant as much. well of cos I feel sad for Lian Hua and all, but the feeling is not as strong as that I felt for Little Papaya. Also, there some points were I will actually question the development. Well, Royston still had his signature weird song sequences ala 881. I was more awed by the fact that he could sing a Hokkien song so well. Still worth a watch but I think it might not go down as well as 881 for most.
Now a photo treat. NDP 08 as seen from Padang!
picnic at the Padang, while waiting for the parade to start...
the flag fly past.. love this shot.
signature shot of Singapore.
this really sweet family of 5 trying catch some NDP action. my parents would nv had done this.
spectacular performance by the Black Knights. definitely the greatest highlight that day.
so this is where our taxpayers money go. train pilots to perform at NDP.
sarang hae Singapore!
雨后总会有彩虹！
nice sky ain't it?
one of the few nice fireworks shots. think the fireworks were a little disappointing for those at the padang cos the smoke was blocking a lot of them from view.
actually it's been an exciting day today just watching the semis of the Table Tennis Women's Team event. heart racing with each point they fall behind by. even tho none of them were born Singaporean, there is still this pride that they are going to give Singapore her first Olympics medal since independence. I guess it felt most close to heart as Li Jiawei was playing cos she felt the most Singaporean among all. Her 3rd time representing Singapore in Olympics. We've seen her grow in Table Tennis, saw her fall in and out of love, seen her at NDP saying the pledge... I guess it's these little things that made us (or me at least) to be able to acknowledge her as a Singaporean. I've nv even heard of Feng Tianwei and Wang Yuegu before this Olympics, so pardon me for not being able to feel for them, altho Feng did really well and is really the heroine for Singapore now. SILVER for Singapore!
on a separate note, I went to the Padang on National Day for the second year running, hoping to soak into some celebratory mood and of course to see the fireworks. did not start well cos it was raining, then there were these tentages blocking our view from the huge screen and finally, because of the rain earlier on, the air was really stagnant causing the smoke from the fireworks to not be able to disperse fast enough so we only managed to see the fireworks in the first 2 mins or so. the rest were all hidden behind thick smoke. still it wasn't a trip wasted cos I made a new fren! haha.. and she turned out to be my senior from DHS. the world is just too small. i think everyone in Singapore is probably just 3 degrees apart at the most. ha!
and on Sunday, I was at the 12 Lotus premiere. quite surprised to be sitting right behind the cast. well, can't help but want to compare it to 881 and after some long hard thinking, I still think I preferred 881, esp in terms of storyline, tho I think 12 Lotus does have great cinematography. 12 Lotus has a very solemn story definitely but I felt it did not develop very well and the characters do not resonant as much. well of cos I feel sad for Lian Hua and all, but the feeling is not as strong as that I felt for Little Papaya. Also, there some points were I will actually question the development. Well, Royston still had his signature weird song sequences ala 881. I was more awed by the fact that he could sing a Hokkien song so well. Still worth a watch but I think it might not go down as well as 881 for most.
Now a photo treat. NDP 08 as seen from Padang!
picnic at the Padang, while waiting for the parade to start...
the flag fly past.. love this shot.
signature shot of Singapore.
this really sweet family of 5 trying catch some NDP action. my parents would nv had done this.
spectacular performance by the Black Knights. definitely the greatest highlight that day.
so this is where our taxpayers money go. train pilots to perform at NDP.
sarang hae Singapore!
雨后总会有彩虹！
nice sky ain't it?
one of the few nice fireworks shots. think the fireworks were a little disappointing for those at the padang cos the smoke was blocking a lot of them from view.Saturday, August 02, 2008
毕业感言
It's over. My life as an undergraduate is officially over since last Saturday as we don the Harry Potter Gryffindor House look-alike gown and put on that "mother-board".
It was not the most exciting ceremony around, listening to people's names being called and waiting for your name to be called to enjoy that 20 seconds of fame on stage. But sitting there with the 100-odd people whom you've braved the last 4 years together is indeed fulfilling.
Once again I feel the love I had for school. For WKWSCI actually. For the people that make up my batch. People who know what work hard and play hard meant. People who are enthusiastic about work, who take pride in what we do, who slog together overnight in school, people who bitch about the sucky project group mates together, people who have been great group mates., people who stick to passion. Teamwork had been a crucial part in SCI and I thank god that although I had my fair share of SPGs, the greater part of my studies have been blessed with great group mates. Well and also the faculty that made lessons so much more interesting and bearable, faculty we could openly challenge. I could not have imagined how my life would be like looking and numbers and formulaes for 4 years and doing past exams papers to prepare for exams.
My parents and grandparents. I think the ceremony meant even more for them than it was for me.
我们是台妹。去过台湾的小妹。
The Kinky Scandalous Six once again.
And our fav jumping shot.Wish I had more time to take photos with everyone that played a part in my 4 years in SCI.
Just yesterday, I went back to school once again, well in a glorified manner cos I was there to collect prizes. And I was actually late, so the ceremony was over and I had to listen to Lee CW give the freshies a lecture on what life will be like in WKWSCI. The mundane division talk, scoring system, what is edventure, who you can approach for assistance blah blah. Suddenly I realised I did not sit thru that when I was a freshie cos I pon first day of school. Must be pay back that I had to listen to that AFTER I'd graduated.
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