ClaraWith the inaugural Asian Youth Games (AYG) 2009 wrapped up, Singapore’s looking forward eagerly to the next big thing – the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) 2010.
And following the outstanding performance of Team Singapore’s Table Tennis team at the recent Beijing Olympic Games, UrbanWire went behind the scenes of international sports competitions that were held in Singapore, and met with Ronald Wee, at the Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA), to find out more about what it takes to organise such a sporting event.
While the affable 51-year-old isn’t enjoying his durians, going fishing and travelling, he can be seen at international sports competitions held in Singapore.
UrbanWire: Hello, Ronald, thank you for allowing us to visit you at the STTA. Can you briefly introduce yourself, please?
Ronald: “I’ve been a referee since 1996, which means it’s been about 13 years, and talking about table tennis, I’m one of the two internationally qualified referees in Singapore, with the other one being Mr Joseph Lau. I’m also a member of the Umpires and Referee Committee, and the trainer for the Advance Umpires Training Course.”
UrbanWire: How often do people actually join the ranks of internationally qualified referees?
Ronald: “The international referee course isn’t conducted very frequently, say once in every 3 to 4 years. And as it’s conducted all over the world, it’s also dependent on the country that wants to organise a referee course. In addition, each country is only allowed to send one candidate for the course, though the host country may be allowed two.
UrbanWire: How did you become an international referee?
Ronald: “Before you become an international referee, you must first become an international umpire, which starts from being a national umpire. When you become an international umpire, you can then go and take the international referee examination.”
UrbanWire: Did you start off playing as a national player or did you go straight into refereeing:
Ronald: “You won’t believe it… I don’t even know how to play [table tennis] at all.”
UrbanWire: Are you serious?
Ronald: “I’m very serious. I don’t know table tennis at all. Zero.”
UrbanWire: We now know that you don’t play table tennis. But do you play other sports?
Ronald: “I do mostly running and swimming now. In my younger days though, I played soccer, rugby, squash, basketball and volleyball.”
UrbanWire: Hmmm, so how did you pick up this interest in table tennis then?
Ronald: “It’s just that in my line of work, we’re required to do officiating. So one of the things that my boss told me was, “Hey, I’ll send you for a table tennis umpire course”. When I said I didn’t know how to play, he replied that I didn’t need to [know how to play], and had to just apply whatever skills that I’d learnt from the other officiating that I was doing then. So, I just applied the principles of the rules and all that, strictly into the umpiring.”
UrbanWire: What’s the easiest and toughest part of being an umpire?
Ronald: “Things would be easy if the players abide by your decisions. On the other hand, players who think that they know the rules and would always like to challenge you on every decision, make things tough.”
UrbanWire: What was your most memorable experience being an umpire?
Ronald: “The most memorable was the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. It was the first time that Blue Badge Umpires (those who’d passed the Advanced Umpire Training) were selected to officiate in the Olympics. My name was not in the original list and I was only selected when one umpire failed his examinations. What made it so sweet and memorable was that I was being appointed to umpire in the Men’s Final. That itself was a recognition for being the top umpire, and it’s the best game that I’d ever sat in for.”
UrbanWire: What was the funniest thing that ever took place during a game?
Ronald: “It’s when I was just starting out as an umpire. I didn’t know how to play table tennis and was officiating a doubles match. Before the start of the service, the partners were exchanging signals under the table on how to serve. I, being a greenhorn, was taught to look at the ball at all times. So it was quite an amusing sight as I kept bending down to look at the ball [which was under the table].”
UrbanWire: What are some of the international compeitions that you have refereed for, other than the recent AYG?
Ronald: “I was involved as a referee at the 46th World Table Tennis Championships in Osaka, as well as the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester. The last few were for the 2006 World Junior Table Tennis Championships in Egypt, Cairo, and the ITTF Pro Tour competition in Nanjing. And for most of the time, I’ll be the referee for all Singapore Pro Tours that are held in Singapore.”
UrbanWire: What’s a typical day on site at the AYG like?
Ronald: “The AYG started at 9am. Typically, I’d be here (in the tournament hall) at about 7.30 in the morning to make sure that the whole playing area is in good condition and that everything’s all arranged neatly. At the same time, I’d look at the previous day’s results, and some notes of the umpires’ performance that I’d taken down. When the umpires report at about 8 or 8.15am, I’d give them a briefing on the things to look out for, and the day’s schedule.
Once the competition is on, my job is to basically observe the play itself, and also to look out for any potential spark ons, which are potential games that may come into an argument or anything. So that’s what I’ve to look out for and keep an eye on. But on the whole, the AYG was pretty well run. I say this because the players came on the point of friendship first.
While a typical competition might finish at 9 or 10pm, the AYG was considered short because it finished at about 6pm. So, yes, my morning will start from the very beginning, where I’m the first one to come in, till the end, where I’m last one to go out.”
UrbanWire: How does the AYG compare against the various international championship games that you have refereed for?
Ronald: “In terms of preparation for the AYG, we were given a very short time frame of a year to organise it. So that’s one. Secondly, the whole competition was being helmed by the Singapore Sports Council. This was unlike all the other previous games, where the organisation work was done by STTA.
When organisation is done by STTA, we have a committee where we work out all the support plans and such. So I’d be very well aware of what’s happening.
This time round, for the AYG, they had a competition manager who would first attend the mettings, and then hand me some information regarding organisation of the entire event.”
UrbanWire: Was the final outcome like anything you had expected?
Ronald: “I had no problems with the organisation and fixtures. However, I thought that the playing surrounds and such, could be further improved upon.”
UrbanWire: Will these issues be addressed in the YOG?
Ronald: “I was told that the YOG will be provided with a totally different set of surrounds. For the AYG, we had to basically make do with the surrounds, which even till the last minute, were still being set up. Also, I was given the assurance that for the YOG, things will be definitely different and much better.”
UrbanWire: Is it much tougher to organise the YOG than other international championship games?
Ronald: “The YOG is very important and significant because it’s the first time that we’re organising it. But in terms of the organisation of the YOG, as compared to some of the international tournaments that I have organised before, I’d say that it’s not that difficult. I say this because the number of players participating in the YOG is small and fixed. When the number of players taking part in a competition is small and fixed, all the fixtures are already arranged beforehand. The schedules are also easily arranged.
Comparing this to other international competitions, where there are many countries participating, and the entries aren’t known until the very last day, these other competitions require a lot more planning and preparation.”
UrbanWire: YOG is expected to receive a much bigger group of players than AYG. Do you think STTA is prepared for this increase in number?
Ronald: “Yes, definitely. While we had tested out our preparations and work flow at the Toa Payoh Sports Hall for the AYG, the YOG will be organised at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, where it’s of a bigger scale, and will consist of 8 tables. And hopefully, we can expect more spectators than what we had at the AYG.”
UrbanWire: Did STTA use to organise tournaments at the Singapore Indoor Stadium?
Ronald: “Yes, the first time was for the Asian Championships, that involved about 33 countries. In fact, Joseph and I had organised that tournament as part of our practical assessment.
UrbanWire: So it’s going to be nostalgic for you to go back there?
Ronald: “(Laughs) In a way, yes. Definitely. It’s nice to go back there again.”
UrbanWire: In your opinion, how did the Singapore youth table tennis team measure up at the AYG?
Ronald: “At the AYG, Japan, China and Korea were very well-known power houses in terms of table tennis. However, from the observation that I had on the AYG, our youth team did pretty well to actually qualify for the semi finals. So, it’s not too bad. I would say that it was good performance. But when it comes to the YOG, we shouldn’t forget that there are other countries from the European side, that have also got very good players. So, it’ll still be a challenge in the YOG.”
UrbanWire: Which key players from our youth team should we be looking out for?
Ronald: “Our female player, Isabelle Li, and male player, Clement Lim. These two are the so-called backbone of the team.”
UrbanWire: Any particular country that we should be especially wary of?
Ronald: “Well, an Asian country would be China. Germany has got very good youth programmes, and France is very good too. Likewise, Africa has got one or two countries that have got good players.”
UrbanWire: Do the players inspire you?
Ronald: “Yes, in terms of their dedication, discipline and sacrifices for the games.”
UrbanWire: If you could be a player for a day, who would it be and why?
Ronald: “Vladimir Samsonov from Belarus. He is currently ranked 6th in the world. I admire him for his sportsmanship and easy approach, where he is always very obliging to the fans. Most important of all, he’s a good player who respects the officials.”
UrbanWire: Do you feel the adrenaline rush during competitions?
Ronald: “For myself, the rush is only the first day. It’s said that for any organisation work, it’s always in the first hour. When the first hour goes smoothly, everything will be as per normal.
Actually, I also take on the role of a trainer during competitions. So when things are going smoothly, I’d normally let the deputy [umpire] take over, and I’ll engage in watching the other umpires’ performances and giving them feedback. I think that our Singapore young umpires have got very good potential, and I want to give them the best training so that they can climb the ladder in the world of umpiring.”
UrbanWire: What keeps you going after 13 years as an umpire?
Ronald: “I wouldn’t say it’s for the love of the sport in terms of playing, but more in the terms of being an umpire – the joy I get from it. And because of table tennis umpiring, I’ve had the chance to travel to many countries. So for me, working as an umpire and helping in organisation work is my way of giving back to table tennis, what it has given me.
UrbanWire: Will you be involved in the upcoming STTA Table Tennis Championships?
Ronald: “Yes, I will be involved in all international competitions that are organised in Singapore. I will also be the referee for next year’s YOG.”
UrbanWire: What are your future plans regarding table tennis?
Ronald: “As there are so few referee courses around, one of the things I’m planning to do is probably to see if I can organise a referee course in Singapore next year, in preparation for the YOG.”