In a heartening speech at the Team Singapore Reception, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam applauded the nation’s athletes for their accomplishments and expressed optimism for the future of Singaporean sports.
On 29 February 2024, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam delivered an inspiring speech at the Team Singapore Reception held at the Istana, recognizing the significant achievements of Singapore’s athletes in the past year and outlining a vision for the future of sports in Singapore. Addressing the gathered athletes, who have represented Singapore in major international competitions such as the 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, the 12th ASEAN Para Games, the 19th Asian Games, the 4th Asian Para Games, and the Special Olympics World Games 2023, the President praised their hard work and dedication. Team Singapore impressively brought home a total of 236 medals across these events, demonstrating not only their skill but also the growing strength of Singapore’s sporting ecosystem.
President Shanmugaratnam highlighted the importance of sports beyond the medal tally, emphasizing its role in uniting people and creating lasting memories. He affirmed his belief in the potential for even greater sporting excellence and the strengthening of Singapore’s shared identity and multiracial spirit through sports. The President commended individual athletes for their contributions and achievements, including Shanti Pereira, Maximilian Maeder, Soh Rui Yong, Quah Ting Wen, Muhammad Diroy Bin Noordin, Kimberly Ong, and Yeo Jia Min, whose efforts and successes have set a benchmark for perseverance, skill, and sportsmanship.
Looking ahead, the President spoke of enhancing the ecosystem for sports development in Singapore, from nurturing young talent to ensuring athletes have fulfilling careers post-retirement. He stressed the need for better infrastructure, coaching, and support, as well as more effective collaboration among sports bodies and associations. A $20 million top-up to the One Team Singapore Fund was highlighted as a step towards providing more resources for athletes. Moreover, the speech touched upon the need for a balanced approach to sports education, advocating for broad exposure to various sports to prevent over-specialisation at a young age.
As the year promises to be another eventful period for Team Singapore, with the Paris Olympics and Paralympics and other major competitions on the horizon, President Shanmugaratnam’s speech served as both a commendation for past achievements and a call to action for the future, inspiring athletes, coaches, and the nation alike to aspire to greater heights in the world of sports.
Source – ISTANA
