Singapore Government Press Release
Media Division, Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts,
MITA Building, 140 Hill Street, 2nd Storey, Singapore 179369
Tel: 6837-9666

Good morning,

Ladies and Gentlemen

Fellow Sports men and women

It is my pleasure to be with you today for the Opening Ceremony of the 17^th Inter-Statutory Board Games (ISBG). This morning marks the start of the 6-month Games during which participants from 31 statutory boards come together to compete against one another in 26 sporting events ranging from indoor games such as table-tennis, to outdoor games such as football.

The ISBG is a biennial meet organised for the purpose of fostering camaraderie amongst statutory board employees through sports. Based on rotational appointment, the co-hosts for the 17^th ISBG are JTC Corporation, Singapore Polytechnic, the Central Provident Fund Board, and the Building and Construction Authority. Together, these four organizations form the Organising Committee, and work closely with the ISBG Council, which comprises representatives from the statutory boards, towards its vision of promoting goodwill and friendship amongst the boards.

Besides fostering camaraderie amongst the statutory boards, the ISBG reminds us that sports is fun and beneficial to our overall well being, be it physically, mentally or socially. Participation in ISBG’s sports activities can bring employees and management of organisations together. It also serves as an excellent platform to improve cooperation and bonding among statutory board employees. Promoting regular sports participation among employees will help us build a healthy and vibrant work force, which is essential in achieving a robust economy.

This is in line with our nation’s Team Singapore approach, which requires all the stakeholders of sports to work as a team towards the vision of a Sporting Singapore. This vision seeks to encourage the growth and development of sports in Singapore through 3 pillars: sports for all, sports excellence and a sports industry. Stakeholders would not only include sportsmen and women, but also all Singaporeans who, in one way or another, help to promote sports. Parents, media, schools and of course, employers and employees must all play their parts in working towards this common vision of a Sporting Singapore.

Complementing the ISBG in its support of sports and fitness is the Singapore Sports Council’s Employee Fitness Programme (EFP), which assists private and public organisations in promoting sports and fitness programmes at the workplace through seven schemes. These include the provision of free corporate fitness assessments and free training for fitness instructors. I encourage Statutory Boards to take full advantage of this programme.

We have much to gain by promoting sports in Singapore. It makes us a more rounded and resilient people. It brings people together and opens new paths for success beyond academic and economic pursuits. Sport does not discriminate between race or religion, acknowledging only excellence in human performance and endeavor. As Singapore enters this new millennium, together with arts, sport will help to create a more gracious and well-rounded society, comprising active, creative and healthy individuals. These will be key-supporting pillars girding Singapore’s economic drive, giving deeper meaning to what Singaporeans aspire towards in this new millennium – a higher quality of life.

I am very encouraged by the passion and the huge amount of energy out there – we should harness it for the good of sport in Singapore. The ISBG, in its small but significant goal of promoting sports participation and fitness, represents one more step in our drive towards the vision of a Sporting Singapore.

With that, I am pleased to announce the opening of the 17^th Inter-Statutory Board Games. Let the Games begin. Thank you.

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