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| Our Team Manager briefing our shooters in the apartment |
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| The Asian Games participants having their meals in the food hall |
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| Queuing for our food |
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| The volunteers in the Games Village |
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| The Malaysian National Shooting Team 2002 |
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| With the volunteer from the USA (Korean American) |
Last night, when watching the opening ceremony of the XXX Olympiad (better known as the London 2012 Olympics) I can’t help but to reminisce the days when I was a member of the Malaysian Contingent in the 14th Asian Games held in Busan 2002. I was a member of the National Shooting Team in the Asian Games 2002. The Asian Games is considered as the second biggest games after the Olympics.
Being in the Games was being like a celebrity visiting a foreign country. I remembered vividly when stepping out of the aircraft (incidentally it was Korean Airlines, the official airline) there were Games Officials in their uniforms who were waiting for us just outside of the aircraft’s door. In our particular group, we had less than 20 people (Malaysian athletes and officials). The Malaysian contingent came in batches as some of the sports would only begin a few days after the opening ceremony. As soon as we entered the terminal, the Korean Security Forces who were all armed with machine guns and dressed in black (their appearances and facial expressions could be quite intimidating) formed a circle around us escorted us to the Immigration and Customs. Many people were looking at us, smiling, waving and a few took photographs of us. We didn’t have much time at Incheon International Airport as we needed to proceed to another airport about an hour away to catch our flight to Busan.
As soon as we got out of the terminal, there was already a bus waiting for us. Our bus was escorted by police cars to the domestic airport. When we arrived at the domestic airport, I wanted to grab some World Cup 2002 souvenirs (Korea and Japan were the hosts of the World Cup football which ended a few months before we arrived) which were sold at bargain prices at the domestic airport. However I was advised by the Korean Games Officials to keep on moving. Later, I learned that the Koreans were very strict with timing and due to security reason, they could not allowed us to move as individuals. As host country, they were responsible for our safety. Adam Tee who was the Team Manager of the Shooting Team told me not to despair as we can get the souvenirs when we stop by again on our way to Malaysia.
Our then trap shooter, Richard Cheong who came in a different flight a few days later told me that his group got special “VIP Treatment”. Why? The reason was because Richard (the lucky fella) got to travel with the badminton team and the Head Coach of the Doubles Team was none other than Park Joo Bong who is a celebrity in Korea. Clearing the Immigration and Customs with Park Joo Bong was a breeze! Richard said all Park did was to say a few words in Korean and everything got moving really quickly
When we arrived at Busan Airport, the Malaysian and Korean Games Officials were there to greet us. Zolkples Embong (now known as Dato’ Seri Zolkples Embong and is currently the Director General of the National Sports Council) enquired about our flight to Korea and assisted me with my bags. Zol (as he was affectionately known) was a very helpful person. We were then brought to the Games Village which had very tight security. We were brought to a transition area where we were processed and given accreditation cards. I was told to guard the accreditation card with my life as that was the only passport recognised by the Games Officials. Without the accreditation card, I will not be able to gain entry into the Games Village and this was a strong rule which would be enforced at all times.
When we entered the Games Village for the first time, I saw the Malaysian flag flying amongst the flags of the other countries which participated in the Games. It was easy to spot where the Malaysian contingent was staying. There were huge Malaysian flags hanging on the walls of the apartment complex where we were going to stay. The Games Village was rather huge and it had a 24 hours cafeteria that was managed by a group of volunteers. In fact the entire Games Village was run and managed by volunteers. In my apartment complex, the supervisor was a young Korean who spoke fluent American English. I asked him where he learned to speak his English. He informed that he is an American Korean and left Seoul when he was just two years old. He came back just for the Games and out of patriotism for his country of birth. He volunteered for the Games as they needed people who can converse in English.
The apartment was small but cosy. The National shooting team had our meetings in our apartment. My room mates in the apartment were Adam Tee (Team Manager) and Richard Cheong (our trap shooter). The floors in the apartment were heated so you won’t feel cold when you step on the floor. Mind you, it was supposed to be summer but the weather was still rather cool. If requested, you can have the apartment cleaned (limited to once a week). I actually met the group of volunteers who cleaned the apartments. They were elderly women volunteers who in spite of their limited English skills conversed well with their friendliness and smiles.
Immediately after we checked in, I went to rent a mobile phone. Those were the days, we didn’t have 3G and because Korea had a different mobile phone system, we were not able to use our Malaysian GSM mobile phones. After I got the mobile phone, I went to the Games Village where ample food was served. In order to ensure that all kinds of food were available, the host country had different types of curry, some Middle Eastern food and some Japanese food every single day of the Games. It was nice to see athletes from all over the continent of Asia having a meal together. At the food hall, I met Jahendran (from the Olympic Council of Malaysia who was a member of the Malaysian Secretariat) and Paul Lissek (our then National Hockey Coach) and Stephen Van Huizen (our then assistant National Hockey Coach). It was also my first time bumping into Yao Ming (later to become the NBA star for Houston Rockets). Being 7’ 6”, he literally stood out in the crowd. Yao Ming was not famous then but he definitely caught a lot of attention with his height.
After lunch, I decided to go to the computer lab. Remember, those were the days where notebook and “Wi Fi” was almost unheard of. When I reached the computer lab, it was a bit of disappointment as there were only 15 terminals available and all of them were occupied. Luckily among the crowd was a fellow Malaysian in the form of Nicol David (who later became our Squash Queen and World No. 1 with a “Datukship” to boot). Because I was wearing our Malaysian tracksuit, she recognised me and indicated to me that she was done with her terminal and allowed me to take over. Thank you, Nicol.
In order to go in and out of the Games Village, we have to go through two different security checkpoint. All of our bags were screened. Someone remarked, it was like a prisoner camp except that in this camp we were treated like VIPs!
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