Olympics live telecasts are about national pride

To my disappointment, the Olympics will not be telecast live here (“Mediacorp offering free Rio Games coverage across multiple platforms”; July 23). That we are reported to be the only one of 17 Asian countries not doing this rubs salt into the wound.

I hope the authorities will step in. The Summer Olympics occur once every four years. Furthermore, this time we have a few good athletes, such as Joseph Schooling, who could win medals in the competition.

If our athletes perform well, then more citizens may even take up sports and live a healthy lifestyle. There is no legitimate reason not to telecast the event live on free-to-air television, as has been done before.

While cost is the customary excuse, this is about national pride. There are other events such as aerial displays or rock concerts that need not be telecast live but would be exciting to watch even in a delayed broadcast.