Mr Teo Chee Hean, Minister for Defence and President, Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC)
Distinguished Guests, Athletes, members of the sporting fraternity, Ladies and Gentlemen.
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We are here tonight to celebrate the achievements of our athletes, coaches, teams and organizations who have done us proud in the international sporting arena. A total of 62 recipients will be receiving this year’s Sports Awards, each of them having played a vital role in Singapore’s sporting success in 2007. |
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It has been an excellent year for Singapore sports. Some of our sportsmen and women have made it into the world’s top sporting ranks. Gao Ning, our Sportsman of the Year, attained the highest standing ever for a Singaporean in men’s table-tennis, climbing to a rank of 10th in the world. Tao Li, our Sportswoman of the Year, is currently ranked No. 11 in the world in her favorite event, the 50-meter butterfly. She is just one of only three Asians to be ranked in the world’s Top 15 for this event. |
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Likewise, Singapore’s efforts in developing our sporting talent from an early age are also bearing fruit. Jonathan Koh, our Sportsboy of the Year, took up air rifle shooting only when he was in Secondary One. After just four years, Jonathan has not only won the Singapore Open but helped the Singapore team bag two gold medals in shooting at the 2007 SEA Games. Not to be outdone is Jazreel Tan, our Sportsgirl of the Year, who at the tender age of nineteen, flew our flag high in Mexico City, and did us proud by clinching a silver medal in the Masters Finals at the World Women’s Bowling Championships last year. |
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Besides these outstanding individual athletes, we also had stellar performances by our national teams. Our National women’s table-tennis team won a silver medal at the world-class 18th Asian Table-Tennis Championships; they also won a total of seven gold medal at the 2007 SEA Games. For their string of successes, the team was given the Team of the Year award (for Team Events). |
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In soccer, our Lions maintained an unbeaten 15-match streak to retain the ASEAN Football Championship. They went on to qualify for the third round of the Asian Group of the World Cup – a first-ever for our young soccer team. For these achievements, our Lions have been named the Team of the Year (for a Team Sport), and Lion’s Coach Radojko (‘Raddy’) Avramovich will be receiving the Coach of the Year award.
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But Team Singapore’s achievements have not been confined to just the sporting arena. This year, Singaporeans of all ages and backgrounds, rallied together to support our bid to host the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (or YOG). Support for the bid came from people from all sectors of society. |
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Almost overnight, YOG activities sprouted up all over Singapore. Students, adults, corporations and our heartlanders – each helped to demonstrate to the IOC and the world just how united Singapore was in our desire to host the first YOG. The bid process saw Singaporeans bonding as a people, rallying as a nation, and working together - to turn what started as a dream into a reality. |
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And even as we countdown in anticipation to Singapore 2010, there is an earlier test for us this August at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. I am told that many of our Beijing-bound athletes are in the final stages of their preparation, and I am sure that I speak for all of us when I wish them all the best in Beijing. |
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I would like to thank the many people who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, to help our athletes achieve the sporting successes that they have. These “unsung heroes” include officials and administrators from the Singapore National Olympic Council, the Singapore Sports Council and the National Sports Associations; as well as our generous corporate sponsors such as Asia Pacific Breweries, NTUC Fairprice Co operative Ltd, Singapore Airlines and Singapore Totalisator Board. Equally important are the families, friends, employers and ‘mentors’ who have supported our athletes every step of the way.
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I would also like to thank Mr Teo Chee Hean for chairing this year’s Singapore Sports Award Selection Committee, as well as his Committee Members. With so many talent and achievements to choose from, the Committee must have had a difficult time determining the eventual award winners. Our thanks also go to tonight’s Organizing Committee for making this event the wonderful occasion that it is. |
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Thank you and congratulations again to all our winners tonight. |
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