By Les Tan/Red Sports
Other photographers were let in but not the Red Crew. (Photo 1 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
One of the Red Crew was enthusiastic about covering the Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) Schools Relay Championships this weekend. At Red Sports, crew members suggest their preferred events and then make the time and effort to go down to the event.
So you can imagine my shock when the phone rang this afternoon and a crew member said: “Uncle Les, they are telling us to get out.”
Koh Yizhe, one of our photographers, was told to leave the competition area by a track official who intimated that the event was exclusive to SPH.
When I spoke to Yizhe over the phone, I suggested he clarify again with another official. Maybe he misheard, I thought.
However, the second official, Mr Lim Jit Kee, the Events/Marketing Director of the Singapore Athletics Association, told him and another crew member, our writer Alethia Tiang:
“You can cover but only from that area (gestures to the spectator stands area). No one is allowed in the competition area. By right you have to ask for permission. Because it’s by SPH, they have their own photographers everywhere. It's nothing to do with copyright. I don't know anything about copyright. But for this event, you can only take from the side. I'm sorry. I don’t care if you’re taking notes or whatever.”
Yesterday, another Red Crew photographer, Lai Jun Wei, was told:
“Cameraman… one more time I call you, you get out to the other side.”
Later, other SPH photographers were allowed into the same spot from which Jun Wei was banished.
This is demoralising.
We are trying to cover our nation’s young talents and we are getting shut out. All we need is to be told where photographers are allowed and we will happily shoot from those positions.
But to be banished from shooting track side, is unfair.
We were told that we could not shoot from the field but this photographer could. (Photo 2 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
We were chased away from this area earlier on, but other photographers could go in. (Photo 3 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
He certainly was not from SPH, yet this photographer could roam the field as he pleased. (Photo 4 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Students with compact cameras were allowed to go that near to the track to take pictures. (Photo 5 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
(Photo 6 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
More pictures in the gallery.
frankly, i am shocked to read some of the comments posted here. You can’t just barge into an event venue and demand that you have every right to take photos of the event and be allowed to stand anywhere you want.
sure there can be demarcated spots for photographers but only if these photographers have been given permission to do so. i am sorry to say but i agree with wat geraldine has written.
les, i am sorry to read some of these comments that you have allowed to be posted. i have been in the business of supporting many sports events on the national and regional level and it is sad that such immature views still exist.
i cannot help but be of the opinion that some of individuals who have posted comments have an agenda against the organisers sph and spore athletics association. far from championing the cause of local school sports, you are only succeeding in having the doors shut firmly in your face.
you should reconsider your approach towards these event organisers if you want them to welcome your team with open arms. all the best.
Hi Melanie,
We allow everyone to comment as long as there are no personal, racial or religious attacks.
Beyond that, we’ve allowed diverse comments to come through.
I’m sure reasonable readers will discern that some of these commenters are speaking on their own behalf and not on behalf of Red Sports.
As far as anyone shooting for Red Sports is concerned, we do not expect to barge into any event and be allowed to stand anywhere we want. That has never been our position.
For the upcoming Schools Nationals Track and Field, we sought CCAB’s permission and they have agreed to let us shoot track side.
At the recent cross-country nationals, we said hello to officials as well and they just told us where to stand at the finish which we complied with.
I hope this clarifies the Red Sports approach to events, Melanie.
Sha, I admire your work at singaporeathletics.com. It’s sad that such initiatives to make the arena of track-and-field a much more vibrant environment is discouraged by the tactless-ness of official-dom.
I sure hope that with more like you who love the sport the way you do, we can bring a revival ;). Haha.
I think it’s unbalanced to compare a concert to a sports event like the SPH relays. Firstly, the stars of a sports event are the athletes themselves and to benefit them and the sport is to allow coverage of the event.
In a concert, of course, to benefit the artiste, you have restricted media access because whoever gets access will have to pay for that access that goes into the pockets of the artiste whom the event is built around to benefit.
At the same time, there isn’t the topic of ticket sales to begin with for the SPH relays. It’s for all comers.
And secondly, the use of the example of paparazzi is irrelevant here. Paparazzi are loathed for their intrusion into the private lives of celebrities.
I think Red Sports’ purpose is very much different from those of the paparazzi in that we aim to serve the sports community at-large by reporting on the public sports arena and increasing its profile.
Professionalism – all the more you guys should know that you need to seek approval from the organisers PRIOR to the event if you wish to cover it. just like a concert, you don’t just lug your huge camera in and expect the organisers to grant you full access and be thankful that you are even there to cover the concert. every fan would just show up at the concert with a camera and demand entry, no need for ticket sales anymore.
Chivalry – basic code of honor, honesty and courtesy amongst professionals. yourself and sph and saa are all for sports, why shed them in bad light? your article is contradicting in itself. your title states “…refuse entry…” but Alethia quoted them saying “You can cover but only from that area…” so they didn’t exactly throw you out of the stadium altogether, they simply didn’t allow you into the competition area, you were still able to cover the event from the spectators area, which is fair i think; you don’t just jump into the basketball ball court in the middle of the game just to get a better shot of the player.
Juvenile – grow up! this is the real world, red tapes, laws and rules exist for a reason. if you can’t play by the rules, or don’t understand the rules, don’t blame everyone else for not letting you play.
If you are professional, sincere and passionate about sports, then play by its respective rules. even the paparazzi don’t go breaking into celebreties’ homes just to get a better shot of them. they just get better lens and learn how to climb up trees. and let’s not forget how an invasive paparazzi caused the death of princess diana many years ago too…let’s all learn to do things the right way.
Yes, I just dropped a note to SPH corp comms to apologise to SPH for not asking their permission for covering their event.
Although it would seem that others have had little luck getting in to track events even when asking for permission.
Sha, who runs the singaporeathletics.com website said on Red Sports (see earlier comment):
“I received the same treatment too … I’ve stopped asking for permission and quit covering local events. All the best RedSports, KUTGW.”
We have been used to going for school events and after a friendly hello to officials, we usually gain entry.
I guess this SPH Schools Relay is not on the same easy-going level.
We still think that future track events should have clearly demarcated and reasonably good areas for all photographers. Photographers should be able to walk between the demarcated areas but can only shoot from within those areas. That would be the best solution for all concerned and any reasonable photographer will agree to it.
We are used to getting permission for official national level events (accreditation and the like) and understand how it works.
But thanks for the reminder to be professional and we will learn to climb trees. And I also hope nobody dies from us shooting their pictures at sports events, Geraldine.
les, you said you wrote to SPH? did they get back to you with an official reply?
Hi Melanie, I’ll let you know when they do. We are just having friendly email exchanges currently.
Thanks for asking.
i was at the SPH relays over the weekend. As far as i recall, there was NO announcement over the PA system with regards to any unofficial photography/photographer not been allowed near the track.
Another point i find absurd was: those standing near the track were told to SIT DOWN as they were blocking the view of those in the grandstands! I have been to countless meets like this and never have i ever been told off like that man.
I received the same treatment too … I’ve stopped asking for permission and quit covering local events. All the best RedSports, KUTGW.
Many of my contemporaries and I have been involved in running local sports since the 60’s…all kinds of sporting events such as soccer, swimming, badminton, volleyball, tennis, judo, x-country, track and field, sailing, canoeing, etc.etc. And many of us hold key positions in running these tournaments and championships at schools,districts,zones,national,ASEAN and ASIAN level. As organisers and as officials, we always hope for a good turnout of spectators and supporters and HOPEFULLY MEDIA and OTHER coverage. Any kind of EXTRA coverage or publicity is a great BONUS to the sport and those participating in it.
So, WE always were very happy to see events well-covered. Well-covered from as many papers or news magazines. The presence of more photographers was always a WELCOME SIGN. In all my years in sports, I have never seen any photographer being “chased out” nor being told rudely to leave, nor barred from filming. NEVER!
So,I am rather sad and disturbed to learn that ONLY Redsports photographers were treated in such a deplorable and thrashy manner.
From what I have gathered from the article, the two SAAA officials should be held accountable for their unprofessional conduct.
The fact that this is an SPH event does not PRECLUDE the banning of other non-SPH cameraman. If in fact this is so, then SPH must state it clearly, SPELL IT OUT, to all in Singapore, their stand[Before an event].
However,IMO,I do not think that is so…the evidence and presence of the other non-SPH cameramen attest to this!
As no bona-fide SPH person spoke with Redsports crew, except the two SAAA chaps,I can only conclude that the “get out orders” were summarily issued.
I think SAAA have some explaining to do.
Geraldine, there is nothing juvenile about aspiring to fair play and professionalism. And you’ll agree that the vast majority of this site’s camerawork is focused on our nation’s sports talent. This is precisely why we need to highlight occasions when that focus is compromised, whether through benign neglect or systemic failure.
I am not sure where chivalry comes into the picture. The choice of word is confusing, given the meaning of the word.
As to whether the post is juvenile, I think we have taken care to show that we understand that track officials need to do their jobs and we request that they respect us enough to let us do ours.
The sum of comments by comments regarding this issue provides us some idea of what they think of the post.
Thanks for your comments, Geraldine.
i didn’t miss them. i think it’s admirable if an independent group forks out their precious time to promote sports out of passion. however, wouldn’t you agree that it’s kind of juvenile to post an article on the web just to express your own grievances (which may or may not be biased)? i think it’s important to demonstrate chivalry over the www and not exploit its advantages.
hi Geraldine. Do take a look at the gallery for all the other pictures of “our nation’s young talents.
We are only trying to make a point in this post. You will be stunned by the amount of pictures we took of “our nation’s young talents”.
seems to me like the camera was more focussed on other photographers and crowd rather than our nation’s young talents.
Perhaps you missed these posts, Geraldine.
http://redsports.sg/2009/03/29/sph-relays-track-and-field/
http://redsports.sg/2009/03/29/singapore-sports-school-track-field/
sph vs rs. 😛
No lah, Cong! SPH vs RS? We will confirm lose one. They spend more on toilet paper for staff than we do on camera equipment.
The reason that they asked me to leave was that I was in the line of sight of the starter, preventing him from seeing the last runner. Which was why I constantly kept behind, or in line with the official in the D-ring.
But if that is their rationale, then shouldn’t all the other photographers within that area be asked to leave as well?
Also, if it is exclusive to SPH only, shouldn’t that mean that school-hired photographers will not be allowed as well, since they are not from SPH.
The treatment Redsports received is uncalled for and unfair.
Redsports is doing such a fine job to cover local sports that i notice more coverage in Today and Straits Times and other SPH papers as a result.Sure Redsports is perhaps perceiced as a threat.
Do not allow this incident to discourage you wonderful guys at Redsports !
You have a growing following in Singapore. Redsports is making waves in Singapore. !!
Keep up the GREAT work. Do ask SAA to explain the rude conduct of their officials ?
I think we should all question SAA on our own too ?
Sports is for all.
Thanks, Simon D.
I don’t think we’re a threat. We are so small.
But thanks for your encouraging words. It’s so frustrating to get stopped for covering an event for no apparent good reason.
We always seem to get yelled at only when covering Track & Field.
makes sense, les. best to always write in and seek permission, thats how i feel. i am from the corp side so best to do things by the book. doubt saa and sph are so mean not to let you in…
anyways, i applaud the work done in yr website. keep it up!
Thanks, Melanie.
I’ve been told off enough times to be very wary of where I stand at track events myself. I am hyper-sensitive to the fact that meet officials need to do their jobs.
We just need clear instructions about media areas. I think whoever organises should feel free to demarcate reasonable areas for photographers to shoot from. We would be happy to comply.
But to be completely excluded while other photographers are walking all over the place is a bit hard to take. It’s not like we are talking about the Olympic Games here.
We dropped a note to SPH to ask for clarification if the event is exclusive to their photographers. We’ll let you know if they reply.
hey look on the bright side les, you guys are starting to make others nerveous, that means you’re doing a good job from a reporting stand point…:)
keep up the good work, peservere and dont give up!
Did you redsports folks ask permission from sph in the first place? could the photographers be from the sph newspapers or hired by spore athletic association and the participating schools?
you can’t simply expect to show up and turn photos anywhere you want. you’ll be interfering with race proceedings.
jun wei and yi zhe, maybe you can shed some light on this…
The standing rule for all our Red Crew photographers is this – obey the officials at the track meet and don’t get in the way of proceedings.
The last thing we want to do is interfere. We just want to tell a Singapore sports story.
We only ask for equal treatment and clearly demarcated areas for photographers so that no one needs to keep telling all photographers where to go.
Thanks, critter#33.
the usual bureaucracy and red tape (no pun intended) rears its ugly head again…