SSA's presidential candidate Lee presents his 'Dream Team'

There is the man with the Midas touch, an over-achiever, an award-winning former journalist turned expert fund-raiser, and multiple-gold medallists.

It is no wonder that Lee Kok Choy calls the combination of individuals - such as Oon Jin Teik, Jose Raymond and Joscelin Yeo - a "dream team" he has assembled for the Singapore Swimming Association (SSA) elections next Friday.

SSA presidential candidate Lee unveiled his team (see sidebar) at the Toa Payoh Swimming Complex, after meeting the nomination deadline yesterday.

The 62-year-old SSA secretary-general, who helped build diving into a medal-winning sport at last year's South-east Asia Games, said: "In our team are people who are committed to making a difference, and also people who can work with each other very well.

"We believe we can build upon what the previous administration has achieved so far with a fresh team and a few stalwarts. We can bring it to a much-higher level."

With the slogan "Every Singaporean a Swimmer", Lee wants to engage all the stakeholders - such as athletes, affiliates, sponsors and parents - in the fraternity to move the sport forward.

Lee acknowledged there is room for improvement on the work done by the current executive committee, led by the outgoing president Jeffrey Leow. He was surprisingly left out of Lee's line-up.

While SSA has generally excelled, there were at times discontent within the community over certain policies and selection processes.

Lee said: "A lot of it is down to better communication, better understanding and consultation.

TRANSPARENCY

"Also, in terms of interpretation of the rules and selection policies, how to ensure there's greater transparency in it.

"The decisions may be wise but, if applied with the wrong process, they are interpreted as unfair or unjust.

"So we have to see how to ensure the process is made more transparent and more clearly defined up front."

Undoubtedly, Lee's biggest coup was to rope in Oon, chief operating officer of the Singapore Sports Hub Pte Ltd.

"Definitely Jin Teik is a heavyweight... there's no way we can understate the value and capability he brings to the team," Lee said of the ex-national swimmer and former Sport Singapore CEO.

Oon said he has no problems juggling two high-profile posts, and any conflicts of interest will be put on record.

The 51-year-old said: "With SSC, I worked seven days a week, sitting in 15 committees and boards. I manage my time well and get results, so I'm not worried.

"I have full support of my bosses and my board. I told them I have this itch to come back to help, and they gave me their full blessings.

"I'm very aware of any form of conflicts of interest. If there's anything, I'll declare openly... I'll let my bosses make the decisions. It's very clear-cut."

Lee's team will be up against a team led by Singapore Bowling Federation president Jessie Phua.

Lee said: "We are standing as a team because we strongly believe we are better as a team and as individuals.

"We believe we can provide a better solution and better value for the community.

"The support of affiliates has been very positive. We listen to what they think can be improved and we're working out solutions together."

If his team don't win, Lee assured that he will still offer his expertise.

"Swimming is in our blood. I don't think we will walk away from the sport just because we don't get elected," he said.