Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

Good Afternoon

It is an honour to be able to join you today for the presentation of the Singapore Sports Awards for Corporations and Employees (Sports ACE).

Presented annually by the Singapore Sports Council (SSC), this award recognises organisations and individuals from both the private and public sectors, who take an active role in promoting sports and fitness at the workplace.

As we are all aware, it is never easy to find time to take part in sports once we start working. In the recent SSC survey on sports participation, findings showed that working adults have a lower participation rate when compared to others such as housewives, students, NS (F) men and retirees. [Anecdote] I was told of this family whose teenage son commented that he was starting to feel like an adult, because he had too many pieces of exercise equipment that he didn’t use anymore.

To assist companies and organisations to promote fitness and health programmes at the workplace, SSC developed the Employee Fitness Programme. This programme has a wide variety of activities and services to meet the needs of most organisations and is aimed at improving the physical fitness of working individuals. Such services include fitness assessments, talks and clinics by professionals on health and fitness and training of corporate fitness instructors.

With a healthy and fit workforce, organisations will experience enhanced work performance and higher productivity. SSC has taken upon itself to ensure that through this programme and many others, organisations and their employees will be able to enjoy quality sports and fitness activities at affordable rates.

I understand that more organisations are responding to the the Sports ACE over the years, and that this year, the number of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) taking part has increased significantly. It is most heartening for me to note that despite the current economic downturn where there is a natural tendency to forego on sports activities, organisations are realising that a healthier and fitter workforce will contribute positively to the organisation’s performance.

Citibank (N.A) is one such organisation. It is receiving 2 awards this year, one for being an organisation that actively promotes sports and fitness at the workplace and the other for its Vice-President, Mr Olivier Crespin, co-winner of the ‘Most Supportive Boss’ category. Mr Crespin has certainly gone beyond the call of duty to promote an active and well-balanced lifestyle to his employees. Some of the activities that he has organised include hiking, dragon boat racing and scuba diving! Variety is the key to success and it is not surprising that he has provided for different types of activities and events to cater to the interests of Citibank’s workforce.

Other organisations that are beginning to create more productive and healthy working conditions include Mazda Motors (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Merck Sharp & Dohme (Singapore) Ltd, Singapore Prisons Department and Yokogawa Engineering Asia Pte Ltd, all of whom are receiving the award for the first time this year.

I had earlier referred to the survey on sports participation. That survey also revealed that the sports participation rate of Singaporeans has increased from 34% in 1997 to 38% in 2001. This is in part due to the active contributions of corporate and individual supporters such as the awardees gathered here today. But we need more of such organisations and individuals as yourselves if we are to become a sporting nation.

To develop more sports-enlightened organisations and individuals and to help organisations ride the next wave, I am glad to announce that the new focus of SSC’s Sports for Life effort is the Sports Partnership Promotion Programme or S triple P for short.

Under the S triple P, SSC, in partnership with the Singapore Pools, will provide four types of assistance in the areas of financing, endorsement, expertise and training, and networking to sport partners who share our agenda in promoting sports. These forms of assistance aim to equip partners with the means to identify, develop, and promote more sporting opportunities for Singaporeans.

For financial assistance, each successful organisation will receive a grant of up to 50% of eligible costs or $40,000, whichever is lower.

The objectives of the S triple P are twofold. Firstly, it aims to expand the network and strengthen the capabilities of sports partners and service providers in Singapore. Secondly, it supports existing and new special sports groups such as niche and extreme sports as well as disabled sports. This allows more Singaporeans to take part in a greater diversity of sports activities.

Events and programmes that are able to reach out to a large population base and are able to achieve continuity in sports participation will be supported under the S triple P. Niche sports such as internationally recognised adventure sports that promote teamwork, character development and public interest in sports, will also receive support.

The government will do all it can to provide the infrastructure and financial assistance to help us become a Sporting Singapore. However, all Singaporeans must play their part. Not only will we be more healthy by being more active, our success in achieving this can only mean a more vibrant and exciting Singapore. And that is something we all look towards becoming for ourselves as well as for our children.

On this note, let me congratulate all the recipients of this year’s Sports ACE Awards. You are excellent models for us to emulate. My best wishes to you and your companies as you continue to press for sporting success.

Thank you.

------------------