what is the benefit of the IMF being in spore?
to show the world that we can host such an event?
or to promote spore as a tourist hub?
creating better relationships with other countries?

i seriously can't see its benefits to spore as a whole.

it causes jams near the city area.
road diversions, road closure.
cars who aren't familar with those roads won't know which way to go.
buses changing lanes like they owned the road thus causing confusion and jams.

its a pain to get to suntec and areas around it when you're taking the public transport.
just from city hall mrt station to suntec itself, my friends and i (after training and with our squash equipment) had to walk through marina square then millina walk before we could get to suntec.
though i must say that the police were quite friendly in directing us when we lost our bearings from time to time.

and for a saturday, it was rather empty in suntec.
so how can the IMF attract tourists here?
shops are either empty or half empty.
the delegates who were walking around weren't there to shop but rather to get from point A to point B.

but then you can tell me it helps the economy.
would be any different if it was hosted in another country in the region?
recently IMF reported that the economy's growth is going to be better than expected.
while, that'll mean share prices will probably be going up.
thus more people will buy.
but won't we get to know of this even if IMF was held in the other side of the world?

maybe i don't exactly know what the IMF does and all that jazz.
but as a citizen who wants to hang out at suntec during this period, its a real pain.