Mastereign Multisport
Wei Leong as Camp Commandant of Singapore Open 2011
Date: 31 August 2011
THE 2011 Singapore Open Track & Field Championships held at the Gombak Stadium from 18 to 22 August stood out for the return of foreign teams participating in the annual meet series, Singapore’s most prestigious. This 73rd edition of the meet saw the participation of a total of 220 athletes, coaches and officials from a total of 12 countries. The responsibility for taking good care of every need of these foreign guests over the championship period fell on the shoulders of national track & field coach Tan Wei Leong, who is also Mastereign Enrichment Group’s Staff Program Manager (Multisports).
Officially appointed the Camp Commandant for the Singapore Open by the Singapore Athletic Association, Tan’s duties ranged from receiving the foreign athletes when they touched down to sending them off at Changi Airport and everything in between. He was assisted by a team of 28 Liaison Officers assigned to the individual teams throughout their stay. Tan also enlisted the help of 86 student volunteers to help with the smooth running the meet itself at Gombak Stadium, executing such tasks as the timely installation and removal of competition equipment and assisting track officials.
In his role as overall-in-charge of the foreign delegations, Tan had the perfect opportunity to renew his good contacts with national officials from countries like Taiwan, Malaysia and Thailand. He also established new contacts with national officials from Hong Kong, Vietnam, China, Japan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Brunei and Singapore Open first-time participants Papua New Guinea.
These foreign guests were impressed by Tan and his team for demonstrating an unflappable determination to see that their needs are always met, despite constantly changing logistical schedules. For instance, Tan twice drove personally to the airport at 3am to pick up individual athletes and ensure that they had meals despite the hour. For literally going the extra mile, Tan and his team were offered praise and tokens of appreciation by teams like Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and Papua New Guinea, among others. The personal goodwill sown with these national sporting officials and organizations over the Singapore Open will no doubt place Tan on a good footing when he leads exploratory forays to these countries on behalf of Mastereign Multisport in the future.