Speech by Mr Tan Chuan-Jin at the SNOC 2016 MAP Awards

25 Nov 2016

SPEECH BY MR TAN CHUAN-JIN, MINSTER FOR SOCIAL AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT AND PRESIDENT OF THE SINGAPORE NATIONAL OLYMPIC COUNCIL AT THE RIO 2016 OLYMPIC GAMES MAP AWARDS PRESENTATION & APPRECIATION DINNER ON THURSDAY, 24 NOVEMBER 2016, 7.30PM AT MANDARIN ORIENTAL HOTEL

Mr Moses Lee, Chairman of Tote Board

Mr Ng Ser Miang, IOC Member

Olympians, athletes and officials

Colleagues and friends from the SNOC, MCCY, SportSG and NSAs

Sponsors and partners

Ladies and gentlemen

Good evening.

It is my pleasure to be here with you this evening to celebrate Team Singapore’s outing at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

The Rio 2016 Olympic Games is historic to Singapore in more than one way. Two sports made breakthroughs while qualifying for the Games. For the first time, Team Singapore had a rower in its mix and sent its largest sailing team to the Games. And of course, many Singaporeans would still remember the moment they watched Joseph Schooling break the Olympic record in the 100m butterfly to win the first gold medal in Singapore’s Olympic history.

There are many individuals and organisations we need to thank. They have worked hard behind the scenes to help our athletes thrive and strive to be the best that they can be.

Families, friends and employers who understand the intensity of high performance sports and who have sacrificed to give hope to dreams, thank you. The support network of coaches, training partners, administrators and officials including those at our National Sports Associations, Sport Singapore, Singapore Sports Institute and MCCY whose expertise and dedication have constantly pushed our athletes to successfully scale greater heights. My colleagues at the SNOC – in particular Mr Low Teo Ping for his stewardship as Chef de Mission in Rio and Dr Tan Eng Liang and his Special Training Assistance Committee for lending a hand to the NSAs in major Games preparations – thank you for your unwavering support.

The success of the Games would not have been possible without the support of our partners and sponsors, especially the Tote Board Group comprising Tote Board, Singapore Pools and Singapore Turf Club. Their generosity in supporting our athletes goes way back to the 1990s, and we hope their support will continue to help us groom many more generations of sports stars for Singapore in the future.

I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and recognise our other Olympic medalists whose achievements at earlier Olympic Games have shaped aspirations and proved that it is possible to chase the Olympic dream. Two of them are here this evening. Let’s put our hands together for Mr Tan Howe Liang and Ms Wang Yuegu.

I had the privilege to be in Rio to support our athletes and officials and to witness the tenacity of our athletes as they put in their best efforts to compete against the best in the world. I witnessed the camaraderie of Team Singapore, displayed when athletes of different sports came together to form friendships, cheer each other on and encourage one another when times were tough. What I witnessed truly exemplifies the spirit of Team Singapore.

To all Rio 2016 Olympians, congratulations. You were excellent role models and ambassadors who carried our flag high at the Games, we are all very proud of you.

Let’s continue to work hard together and put our athletes’ interests foremost to achieve greater Olympic success for Singapore.

Thank you.