This is a reprint of my appeal letter written to our MP, Mr Chan Chun Sing. Please go to his fb & lend me a "LIKE" posted in "Posts by Others". The link is https://facebook/ChanChunSing.SG?filter= Thanks! Irene ==================================================== I am appealing to you and the public on the behalf of figure skating community to help us lift barriers against our children’s rights to most effective coaching and training opportunities at our National Sporting Facilities, namely, The Rink at Jurong East and privately owned ice rink, Kallang Ice World (KIW) at Stadium Walk. Given the sudden denial of private coaching without warning and valid reasons at KIW and the reluctance of The Rink to provide similar services, our Singapore Figure Skaters are daunted with the prospect of underperforming in the coming International Skating Competition (SkateAsia, Bangkok, Aug 4th ~10th) against their counterparts from other parts of Asia and will definitely have a long term effect on the future development of figure skating in Singapore. Ignorance of Competition Act, negligence of relevant authorities to enforce measures against unfair market practices and most importantly, failure of The Rink to address the unmet needs of private coaching and training and make provision(s) to terminate the monopoly power of KIW over the sport of figure skating and stop further plausible “abuse of dominance”, are the roots of crisis. THE RINK (JCube) Stifles Competitiveness and Eventual Net Welfare Loss It is sad and ironical that the building of a new world-class Olympic size rink, developed under the Community/Sports Facilities Scheme (CSFS), a non-profit operating model that has the capacity to reach out to the whole skating community from the beginner to high level skater, did not help to improve training opportunities for achieving athletic excellence. Instead it imposes barriers against figure skating enthusiasts, denies access, and creates net welfare loss and wastage of scarce resources as follow: 1. Higher fees but lower quality of services Students are forced to pay higher fees (through SISA), trained in groups at graveyard hours instead of 1-1 private coaching at regular opening hours. This explains why only a small number of advance students are trained in our National Sporting Facility and majority are forced to remain in the smaller and older ice rink, which in turn reaffirm KIW’s supremacy and stifles competition among the two rink operators. 2. Reduces Coaching Opportunities for both skaters and local coaches Given the smaller pool of students, coaches are made redundant, force to take second jobs or remain in the old rink. 3. Refuse to seek creative and innovative measures to make effective and equitable use of the rink Random observation shows that The Rink is often under-utilised on weekdays (except school holidays and eve of public holidays), especially during the 10:30pm ~ 2:45pm session. At times, as few as 5 customers were skating in some session of the day. What a waste of scarce resources?! Lack of competition between the two rinks encourages complacency which breeds incompetency and inefficiency and eventually a net welfare loss. On top of that, given the inelastic demand and the monopoly power KIW accrues, our figure skaters are extremely vulnerable to any form of “abuse of dominance”. Alleged “Abuse of Dominance” against Skaters Besides the recent sudden withdrawal of services from figure skaters without notices and valid reasons, the following are plausible act(s) of “abuse of dominance” against the ice skating community 1. Denied Singapore from hosting our National Competition in our homeland In 2010, KIW is the only ice rink in Singapore, and the only venue suitable to host our 9th Singapore National Figure Skating Championships and Competition in the island. Unfortunately, “Kallang Ice World said they could not make a decision at the time although SISA had been trying to book it for some months,” said SISA President, Ms Sonja Chong. Decisions were made to move our national competition event in Sunway Pyramid Ice Rink, Malaysia. straitstimes/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_501951.html The denial of venue cost our Home skaters dearly. Following are some of the unnecessary additional hefty cost incurred by our figure skaters and organiser: *Unnecessary additional manpower cost in organising the event in neighbouring country. *Additional cost of accommodation and transportation. *Unnecessary strain and time wasted in travelling to different country to participate in our own National event. *The implicit loss of “face” and “shame” which are difficult to measure and calculate for having to borrow neighbouring country’s facility to host our own National event Details of the event and accommodation cost can be found in SISA website, sisa.org.sg/Portals/4/docs/2010_National_Competition_Announcement_v2.pdf 2. Banned Singapore Short Track Speed Skating Team from Using KIW facility for training purpose There was a news article published in Straits Times dated Jan 10th, 2011, titled “Skaters Hit Speed Bump”. Following is an extract found in an article published in the website theurbanwire/nptribune/?p=2250 “…. The skaters were told that if they wish to continue using the rink, they will have to use regular rental skates instead of their speed skates.” “It defeats the purpose if we don’t wear our speed-skating boots,” Lucas Ng, 22, a member of the team told The Straits Times in an article titled ‘Skaters hit speed bump’ published on Jan 10, 2011. The above event was cited during the forum to remind us of our vulnerability and the capability of KIW to ban figure skating completely should we voice our woes to the media. 3. Prohibit freelance contract coaches from coaching in other ice rink – distort distribution of resources Because of the limited skating job opportunities in the market, local coaches are at the mercy of their employer, and are subjected to unfair practices such as prohibition of freelance contract coaches from taking similar job in competitor’s enterprise. Further, under the current new rulings in KIW, coaches’ income is severely reduced as they can only coach one evening in each week instead of daily (Mon~ Fri, 10am ~ 10pm, except public holidays). The livelihood of freelance coaches at KIW, particularly those “fulltime” freelance coaches who have no other skills is severely impaired and thrown into disarray. What recourse do they have given the terms and condition of their employment contract? The above three incidences were cited during the Singapore Ice Skating Association (SISA) forum with figure skating community in July 6th, 2013. There might be more act of exploitation that went unreported. Unfair market practices and exploitation of consumers as well as employees should not be condone and perpetuated. Rebuild Competitiveness and Create a Nurturing Environment to Foster Growth and Success To summarize, please help us lift the artificial barriers in The Rink that discourage competitiveness and deny our children the best opportunities for realising their truth depth and potential talent. Being a National Sporting Facility, The Rink cannot overlook its roles and responsibilities to promote the mastery of figure skating, from beginner to competitive endeavours. It should welcome skaters of all levels, instead of being a venue of limited access that encourages discrimination and unfair practices against athletes. Please help us foster an appreciation for equity and diversity, provide a nurturing environment for physical growth and social well-being. Please afford our deserving young athletes all the necessary support in their pursuit of athletic excellence and success at prestigious international competition as high as Winter Olympic Games. Thank you. Irene Choo
Posted on: Thu, 18 Jul 2013 04:48:50 +0000
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