SINGAPORE — Nearly a week after some spectators were locked out of the SEA Games closing ceremony at the National Stadium, at least one of those affected received a pleasant surprise.

Writing on her Facebook page, Clarice Teo said Singapore SEA Games Organising Committee’s (SINGSOC) chief of community and corporate outreach Toh Boon Yi had personally delivered a SEA Games closing-ceremony fun pack and ticket refund, although she realised who he was only after doing a Google search.

TODAY understands SINGSOC staff like Toh have been attending to affected spectators by delivering fun packs to their residences.

“After the SEA Games closing ceremony issue, I wrote in amicably (to ask) for a refund and the fun pack on Tuesday. Within hours, I received a call with endless apologies, procedure of the refund and a follow-up email,” said Teo.

“Today, I received a text from a gentleman by the name of Boon Yi, informing me that he would deliver the refund and fun pack. When we met, Boon Yi was perspiring, but still smiling widely. He again apologised for the inconvenience and asked for a recount of my experience. He then explained the situation, accepting full responsibility of the inconvenience and (saying) how they would work to improve future events.

“Mr Toh, looking tired and perspiring from the delivering, still had to listen to me for a good five to 10 minutes. Seriously?! Talk about service with a smile. Yes, you can say how this was their blunder and it’s only right they do it ... (But) what’s the possibility of this happening in other organisations or countries?”

This came after many spectators, believed to be in the “hundreds”, were locked out of the 55,000-seat arena for Tuesday’s closing ceremony, as those inside had congregated at the inner concourse as they could not find their seats after the stadium lights had gone dark.

This forced stadium personnel to close the gantries to prevent the congestion from worsening. But many of those affected felt the organisers needed to take responsibility.

In response, SINGSOC apologised for the incident and offered affected spectators a refund (each ticket costs up to S$40), a fun pack and supporters’ medallion.

Writing on Facebook, Toh, who could not be reached for comment yesterday, said: “Feeling embarrassed by Clarice’s kind words ... It takes a nation to host an extraordinary Games. I am proud of this nation of ours.” Shanjayan Muniappan