CRITICISMS

One of the biggest criticisms levelled at the Singapore YOG was the miscalculation of the budget for the event. The games exceeded its original budget of S$104 million, ballooning to $387 million. Several reasons for the overspending were offered: It was the first time that such an event was organised and there was no other model to fall back on. Secondly, the upgrading of sports venues and equipment, the staging of the opening and closing ceremonies and the provision of live broadcasts of the Games also pushed the budget past its initial estimate. In fact, the biggest cost was attributed to putting in place sports-related technology with the YOG requiring world-class timing and information systems which Singapore did not possess at the time.