It is my pleasure to join you this afternoon at the Sports Council’s Sports ACE Awards Presentation Ceremony.

Singapore’s survival depends largely on the productivity and resilience of our people. Both the Government and many business organisations have in place schemes and programmes to educate and re-train our employees. This is necessary for Singapore to be adequately prepared to surmount the many new challenges in economic competition of the new millenium and gain a competitive edge in the global economy. However, while the training of the mind is important to develop new skills to improve productivity at work, our physical well-being should not be neglected.

Both the Sports Council and Ministry of Health have been actively promoting health and fitness through community-based education and activity programmes for many years. These have produced positive results, for instance, lower use of tobacco generally and improved habits in fitness and physical exercises. The Sports Council survey showed that in 1997 one in three adult Singaporeans exercise at least once a week compared to one in four in 1992.

More can be done to encourage Singaporeans to exercise. Last year, the Sports Council launched its Sports For Life Employee Fitness Programme and recently the Ministry of Health introduced a workplace health programme. Both these programmes are timely. Employers and employees have to be educated on the long-term mutual benefits of well-planned workplace health and fitness programmes.

By getting employees to stay fit and healthy, employers will stand to make much productivity gains, such as lower healthcare costs, lower medical leave and absenteeism rates and improved staff morale. Companies that promote sports and fitness at the workplace will command a greater competitive edge because of their more productive workforce.

There are also benefits in promoting sports and fitness activities within the workplace that are not so obvious, such as developing staff loyalty. When employees and employers play or exercise together, friendships are forged and strengthened. These friendships form an important social glue that can prove crucial when the organisation needs the co-operation and sacrifice of employees to overcome periods of crisis. In view of these benefits, forward-thinking employers should regard the implementation of employee health and fitness programmes as a necessity, rather than an option.

Today, I would like to congratulate all the organisations and individuals who are receiving the Sports ACE Awards and Certificates of commendation for the exemplary way in which they have helped in promoting and participating in employee health and fitness programmes. I urge more organisations to take up the Sports Council’s offer to help put in place similar programmes. I also hope that the Annual Sports ACE Awards will inspire more companies to actively promote workplace fitness.

The Sports Council should be commended for providing a wide range of sports and fitness programmes which companies promoting employee fitness and Singaporeans in general can benefit from. I look forward to more of such programmes so that more Singaporeans will participate in sports and exercise for lifelong enjoyment and benefit.

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