Two buses and a 12-hour shift to be part of history

the best YOG story from Alan Harris, the IOC Young Reporter from Barbados and also winner of the Steve Parry Prize.
 
SINGAPORE - He takes two buses every morning to keep the Youth Olympic Village clean.

Cheng Chuan, a Malaysian, journeys daily from his home country to the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore to sweep, mop and pick up the garbage left by the more than 5,000 athletes and officials of the first-ever Youth Olympic Games.

He rises at 2:30 a.m., seven days a week, without fail.

His commitment to his job, be it of necessity, is simply unwavering.

After a quick cup of tea, he leaves his wife of 25 years and his teenage daughter in bed in their one bedroom wooden dwelling in Jahar Bharu, Batu Pahat – a small province in the southeast of Malaysia.

At 3:45 a.m., he takes a bus to Singapore where on his arrival, he spends one hour, never less, in Singaporean customs.

At 5:45 a.m., he then takes another bus to the YOV where he reports to work, never late, for a shift starting at 7.

Cheng, 48, is a small man in stature but a great man within.

He is often, almost always, bypassed in the chaos which is the YOV. Nevertheless, he sees his job as one of importance. “You want to hear my story?” he said, ashamed of his broken English.

"[This is]... my first time working at [the] university but it is a good experience for me. I can see a lot of friends and they are very good to me.”

He said that despite being obscure in the realm of the Olympic movement, he was honored to be part of sporting history.

"My job is the same as everyone else,” he said as he broke into a smile, clearly happy that someone had taken the time to ask.

"This is the first time that [the Youth Olympic] Games are in Singapore and I am glad to be here. I come, do my job, and I am part of history.”

The job he speaks of lasts 12 hours.

He leaves the hustle and bustle of the YOV at 7 p.m. and repeats the journey back to Malaysia, to his beloved wife and daughter.

Rest assured, he will be back again tomorrow morning – mopping, sweeping and cleaning, doing it all with a smile.

When the Youth Olympic Games have passed, there is a good chance that not a soul will remember Cheng Chuan. However, he will remember them, and for him, that is justice served.

Safe travels, Cheng.