Year 6 Article - Brief History of the Games

BRIEF HISTORY OF GAMES

It is not the biggest sporting event to be held in Singapore and Malaysia - sometimes the standard of play during the competition might not even be very good - but it is the only sporting tournament that has the power to stop proceedings in the hallowed courts of justice in our countries. The significance of the annual event lies in the fervent support it receives from the judges and legal practitioners from the two neighbouring territories over the years.

Right from the start when the Bench and Bar Games were first inaugurated through its evolution into the Malaysia-Singpaore Law Games, the closing of each year's proceedings alwyas evoked a sense of anticipation for the next event. Light-hearted fun and games and opportunities to build and renew friendships during the annual event have ensured the games' popularity through good times as well as bad. The games weathering constitutional crises and economic recession have grown, in terms of the number of sports played and the number of participants.

Bigger, better and more enjoyable - aspiration of each year's organising committee. In year 2000, the Malaysia-Singpoare Law Games were held together with the inaugural Quadrangular Law Games - participants from the Sabah Bar and Sarawak Bar were added to the fray. The standard of play might not have become appreciably better - our golfers are no Vijay Singhs and we will still not see Mia Hamms on the football field or the bowling skills of Murailitharan on the cricket pitch - but the annual games for the legal fraternity have certainly become bigger and in many ways, more enjoyable.

Tan Woon Liang