Daily Lessons from Life 20 June 2011 - 'We don't think it's cheating'

"'We don't think it's cheating' - The New Paper Mon, Jun 20, 2011

THEY congratulated their son Jacky after he picked up the top prize in the Sundown Marathon 10k race last month, knowing he participated under false pretences.

So, did Jeffrey and Cindy Ong condone their son's act of cheating?

In an interview with The New Paper last night in their Woodlands home yesterday, Cindy said: "It's not like he registered in the veterans' category and won. That would be unfair.

"But (in his case), I don't see why it's considered cheating. He didn't really have an unfair advantage."

Jacky, who used a false identity to race as he was too young to compete, was not actually the first to cross the finish line.

Two other runners had finished ahead of him, but were struck off the winners' list for also running under someone else's identity.

But the two admitted their act immediately, which allowed Jacky to be declared the winner after the race.

That same day, Jacky collected the winner's prize of $400 cash and $400 in New Balance vouchers.

But the Riverside Secondary School Sec 2 student was disqualified last week after it was found out that he registered as his girlfriend's father, who is 50 years old."

A case of unthinking parent or parents misguiding their son?

Lessons for me are:

1. running under other's registration is fine though there were some amount of risk like: if you get into an accident or in difficulties, the medical condition and alergies stated on the blib, if any, may get you into troubles when you do not have those medical constraints;

2. however, collecting the prizes AFTER 2 runners ahead of him immediately admitted they ran using the registered names of others voluntarily and were not given the prizes, is simply improper conducts! It is that simple. So, the parents, or the mum in particular, need to reflect deeper into this issue. If the boy is of the view that he did not cheat, at least not intentionally, by the parents or mum's advice, he MUST erase that and admit that it was improper to collect the prizes according to the rules of the event organized. He should also educate his parents or mum that it is NOT right for him to collect the prizes;

3. hopefully this is just an oversight and not a considered action or opinion by the parents, especially the mum. It is also hope that most readers will agree that what the boy did or was advised to do is improper. Otherwise, we have serious issue of parents incapble of exercising good judgement and guidance to develop their children!

It is 'cheating' when you collect the prizes that you are not supposed to because you were not the registered person for the contest and that the explicit conditions of the contest said so.

As for the talented runner, please continue to pursue your passion and something you obviously are good at. Just remembered Dr Ben Tan, a prominent sportperson and authoritative sports medicine specialist, comments that overstretching your young body prematuring may not be a good thing in the long term!