1. In January this year, I spoke on the need to lift sports to new heights in Singapore. I challenged the Committee on Sporting Singapore (or CoSS), chaired by Minister Abdullah Tarmugi, to transform Singapore into a sporting nation.

4. With 40 recommendations to be implemented, CoSS has identified "Team Singapore" as the theme to guide the way. Team Singapore does not refer to just our athletes and coaches. It includes all Singaporeans who, in one way or another, help promote sports, such as parents, employers and the media. The spectators who cheer our sportsmen and sportswomen are also part of Team Singapore. Team Singapore is about a meeting of minds, a common understanding, and a shared vision.
5. Team Singapore is also about seeking win-win and cooperative approaches to challenges. It is about sharing limited resources, and rising above individual interests for the national good. Team Singapore is the bond for a Sporting Singapore.

Sports Excellence

6. We feel a special sense of bonding whenever we support our athletes at international competitions. We feel even prouder when they mount the medal podium and our national flag is flown. We should feel proud too when they do not win, but have put in their best. For that is what Singapore should be about – having the guts and gumption to try and try again.
7. We must aim high in our pursuit of sporting excellence. With the right support and commitment, there is a chance for Singaporeans to reach the pinnacle of the sport they choose to pursue. Being of Asian build is no longer an excuse. There are sports such as badminton and table tennis in which Asians have traditionally excelled. Also, other sports are seeing the emergence of Asian stars. Hidetoshi Nakata has penetrated the international soccer scene. Michael Chang was amongst the world’s best in tennis, Michelle Kwan is outstanding in figure skating, Pak Se Ri and Vijay Singh in golf, and now, our own Jesmine Ho in bowling.
8. We will adopt a multi-pronged approach to help our athletes achieve international success. First, we will turn our National Sports Associations into effective organisations for developing our athletes, and for promoting sports to the masses. We will provide our athletes with the necessary support to help them cope with the rigors of pursuing their international dreams.
9. Second, the proposed Sports School will help our aspiring athletes start off on the right foot. With support from top-class coaches and advanced sports science services in the Sports School, our athletes will have a better chance of becoming tomorrow’s stars. We will put in place scholarship programmes, and career planning and endowment schemes. I am told that Mr Moo Soon Chong, who is currently the principal of Anglican High School, will be the first principal of the Sports School.
10. The CoSS envisions Singapore becoming one of the top 10 sporting nations in Asia by 2010. While this will not be easy, in the process of striving towards this goal, we will emerge a stronger sporting nation.

Sports for All

11. But winning medals should not be the be all and end all of sport. Simple participation, in the spirit of fair play and sportsmanship, is equally important. Health, vitality, competitiveness and teamwork are other qualities that we can develop. We do not need to be a medal-winning athlete to benefit from sport.
12. It is especially important for our youths to understand this. Lessons from sports cannot always be taught in a classroom - winning and losing gracefully, the killer instinct, compassion, teamwork, fair play, sportsmanship. These are lessons that build character.
13. Going forward, new initiatives will be set up to help more Singaporeans enjoy sport. While the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) will continue to play a leading role in providing sports facilities and programmes for the public, there will be many other sports services providers. The SSC will take on a new role of helping these providers further improve their capabilities. Efforts will also be made to optimise the use of land and facilities for sport. For example, new schools will be designed such that they can share their fields with the community during non-schooling hours. The target is to increase our sports participation rate from 34% today, to 50% by 2005. Let us make sports part of Singaporeans' daily living!

Sports Industry

14. There is also an economic dimension to our efforts to promote a Sporting Singapore. International sporting events add colour and vibrancy to our society. They are an essential component of a global city, where the arts, entertainment and sports thrive. Such sporting events also help showcase Singapore to the rest of the world.
15. We also need to present more unique, Singapore-styled events to the global sporting community. We have, for example, started to make our mark in events such as the Tiger 5s Futsal (or indoor football) competition. Competing nations are beginning to see Singapore as the capital of Futsal. Our hot and humid climate also makes for extremely challenging endurance events. The Singapore International Marathon has the potential to grow into a world-renowned event if the Singaporean challenge can be developed into a prestigious, sought-after trophy. I am sure there are other events that we can mould into something uniquely Singaporean with international appeal.
16. Currently, our sports industry’s contribution to GDP is not significant. There is potential for growth, in creating jobs and stimulating tourism. To give the sports industry a boost, we have decided to redevelop the National Stadium into a multi-use sports hub. A multi-agency committee has already been set up to study this. A modern, multi-purpose facility can allow us to host many more sporting events. The CoSS is targeting to double the size of our sports industry by 2010.

Conclusion

17. All considered, we have much to gain by promoting sports in Singapore. It makes us a more rounded and resilient people. It will bring our people together and open new paths for success beyond academic pursuit. Sport does not discriminate between race or religion, acknowledging only excellence in human performance and endeavour.
18. Currently, the Government spends about $40 million each year to promote sports. The amount is more if we also include infrastructure development, as well as contributions from Singapore Pools and corporate sponsors. We are now committing an additional $500 million over the next five years to implement CoSS’ recommendations. It shows our seriousness in wanting to reach new levels of sporting achievement in Singapore.
19. Let us work together towards a Sporting Singapore.