SOMETHING does not add up at the Asian Youth Games.
The AYG organisers claimed a sell-out crowd of more than 150 spectators watched the first day of the diving finals.
The media release making that claim came in on Tuesday night after The New Paper had attended the diving event earlier that morning and afternoon.
But our pictures of the crowd on Tuesday did not reflect that claim.
For yesterday's diving event, The New Paper took it to mean that no tickets would be available at the door again.
On sale
But at 3pm yesterday, tickets were still on sale at the entrance of Toa Payoh Swimming Complex where the Girls' 3m Springboard and Boys' Platform diving finals of the AYG were held.
The last three tickets of the 40 that were available at the gate were sold by 3.30pm - half an hour before the finals kicked off - one of the ticket sellers at the gate told The New Paper.
Expecting to see a sell-out crowd at the spectators' stand, this reporter found plenty of empty seats instead.
A head count showed 50 spectators without passes. That suggested that these spectators had paid for a ticket to watch the event.
There is also the possibility that those who have bought tickets failed to turn up.
But among those ticket holders, there were many who did not have to pay for their tickets.
Bryant Luo, 20, a student, said: 'There are 11 of us and we're from Singapore Diving. We were given complimentary tickets.'
Even as he was talking to this reporter, one of his friends asked their coach if she had more complimentary tickets to give away, which she did.
Empty
This reporter counted 300 seats in the spectators' arena, of which 60 were restricted to the public.
Since the front four rows were empty, press photographers moved in to occupy them.
Undergraduate Darren Tan, 22, was one of a handful of spectators who was not there to support any of the athletes, but paid $9 for a ticket to catch the diving finals. He said: 'I thought the place would be packed. The mood is quite dead actually.'
When told that it was a sell-out crowd, Tan gave a wry smile and said: 'This doesn't look like a sell-out crowd to me.'
Other events with poor attendance
Event: Athletics
Venue: Bishan Stadium
YES, THERE was a crowd.
But not as big as anticipated.
At 4pm yesterday, Bishan stadium was still very quiet.
Organisers informed me that a big crowd was expected and that we were not allowed to move about too much.
But at at 5.20pm, the crowd was still patchy and there were loads of empty seats about. This is in direct contrast to what the public relations officers told me - that large crowds were expected.
- Veena Bharwani
Event: Beach Vollyetball
Venue: Sentosa
THERE were about 30 people from the public, most of whom are tourists and students.
