Singapore Sailing Federation

GREAT battles can sometimes weaken even the greatest of men.

And on the eve of arguably the biggest day in Singapore's sporting history, Ng Ser Miang and Teo Ser Luck found themselves uncharacteristically superstitious.

Not one to turn to divine intervention, Ng had never been a great believer in religion - until the 58-year-old started embarking on the dream to help bring the inaugural 2010 Youth Olympics to Singapore.

'I'm not religious, but I found myself praying every day,' joked Singapore's International Olympic Committee Executive Board member.

'I was just hoping someone would listen.'

Teo began reading into even the smallest things.

Said the Parliamentary Secretary (Community Development, Youth and Sports): 'From stars being aligned to rare birds in the sky, we took it all as a good sign.'

At 7:11pm yesterday, the prayers of both men were answered when International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge announced Singapore as the winning city.

The IOC members voted 53-44 in Singapore's favour over Moscow.

It was the culmination of a trying nine months for the two men, dubbed the 'Ser brothers' because they share the same name.

They had been the faces of Singapore's bid.

Ng was the international evangelist, meeting key members of the international sports fraternity and spreading Singapore's good word. Teo was the local face, volunteering his time and energy to rally support among Singaporeans at the countless YOG events in the last few months.

Given the nature of the YOG race, their roles were crucial.

Explained Ng: 'This was a unique race because, unlike the competition to host the traditional Summer Games, there wasn't a session where we could impress members.

'There wasn't a chance for anyone to lobby for votes and impress the IOC members.

'So the challenge was: How do we let people know about our bid? And achieve it within seven months after announcing our bid?'

The first step was putting together a good bid that would impress IOC selectors.

The Singapore idea was built around a compact venue plan, including one large cluster of 13 sports at the Marina-Kallang area.

Thanks to an efficient transport plan that utilises the MRT, taxis, buses and water-taxis, all venues were within 30 minutes of the Athletes Village, to be located at the yet-to-be-constructed University Town.

A strong educational programme which focused on youths and topics like doping prevention, respect for the Olympic values and a healthy lifestyle also stood out.

But what turned out to be the real clincher was a weapon both men had in their own backyard: Singaporeans.

Said Ng: 'One of the things that impress most of the people I met from all over the world was just how passionate Singaporeans were of the bid.

'They logged on the Internet and found people blogging, posting videos of YOG events.

'That youths played a key role in helping design our own dynamic bid website wowed people.'

That was only the beginning.

From over 550 companies to the thousands of youth who participated in YOG events all across the nation, their loud support for the bid was so infectious that by the time IOC members posted their votes on Feb 15, almost every Singaporean had heard of the YOG.

Said Teo: 'I would go down to my constituency for walkabouts and even the senior citizens would ask me about our chances to host the Games.

'They would talk to me about their problems and concerns, then add 'so how, got chance?'.

'That was when I knew that we were achieving something very special, that we were slowly convincing the nation to back us.'

While it was easy to sell the idea to most Singaporeans, others needed more persuading.

Said Teo: 'There were sceptics. Some who never thought that we could hold a Games of such a magnitude. Then there were others who saw the Games as a way to boost their own interests.

'But this project needed people putting the needs of a nation before themselves.

'They needed to look at the bigger picture and not just their own self-interest.

'There were some toes that we stood on en route to where we are today.

'But we must be grateful that in the end, everyone bought into the idea, everyone worked together to help Singapore win.'

Singapore's track record of never having hosted a major games also worked in its favour.

As IOC president Rogge said: 'Moscow was a little bit penalised by the fact that Sochi was awarded the Winter Games.

'I think the prevailing sentiment among the IOC members is also that they prefer to give it to a new city that has not organised a Games.'

The Russian capital had been deemed the favourite in November, when it headed a list of five shortlisted countries. Singapore was second.

But the Republic's assurance that its proposed Olympic Village at the University Town would be ready by 2010 - the IOC's main worry - quashed fears that Singapore would not be ready to host the Games.

Both Ng and Teo were again reminded just how strong the ground support was yesterday.

In celebrating the win at a Whampoa coffeeshop yesterday evening, the two men were constantly interrupted by Singaporeans wanting to shake their hands and congratulating them.

Said Ng: 'It was really heart-warming. All wanted to just say thank you and that they were behind us all the way.'

Perhaps Teo summed up best, when he said: 'It needed our two hands to clap and get things going early on.

' But we needed the hands of a nation to make this dream come true.

'Before, I woke up and went to sleep seeing the five Olympic rings. Now I see the Olympic rings in Singaporeans too.'