| 1. |
The 2005 SEA Games will be hosted by the Philippines.
|
| 2. |
We will be fielding 380 athletes competing in 33 of the 41
sports competed. This compares to the 298 athletes that we fielded
for the 2003 SEA Games in Vietnam where we took part in 23 of
the 32 sports competed. |
| 3. |
Among the sports which did not make it to the last SEA Games
but have athletes qualifying this time are Dragon-boat, Petanque,
Tennis and Karate. We hope that the athletes will justify their
selection by doing better than their qualifying performances.
Dancesport will be making its debut in this SEA Games, and we
will be represented by 3 couples. However, we will not be participating
in Tennis, Baseball, Weightlifting, Squash, Wrestling, Muay
Thai, Arnis and Boxing for the coming Games, the latter four
sports are without NSAs. |
| 4. |
I am pleased to report that among the 381 athletes bound for
the Philippines there are five students of the Singapore Sports
School. They are swimmers Ho Shu Yong (16 years), Mylene Ong
(14 Years), Ruth Ho (15 years), bowler Jazreel Tan (15 years)
and sailor Sean Lee (14 years). Four of them are from the pioneer
batch of students. The fifth, Jazreel joined the Sports School
only this year. There were three other students who were on
the shortlist, but unfortunately they did not make the cut when
the final teams were chosen by the various NSAs. |
| 5. |
You will be surprised to know that among these five, not all
are debutants for the SEA Games. Ho Shu Yong made her debut
in the 400m and 800m freestyle swimming events at the Vietnam
SEA Games two years ago when she was 14 years old. |
| 6. |
I have been told that there is a buzz among the Sports School
students. They are all excited that five of their peers will
be taking part in the SEA Games. I understand the school is
also making plans to have the students watch the SEA Games ‘live’
on television in the school’s dining hall when the five
Sports School SEA Games athletes are competing. We wish them
well. A good performance from them should inspire not just the
rest of the students in the school, but also those thinking
of joining the school, to work hard so as to realize their dream
of representing Singapore at the SEA Games one day. |
| 7. |
I am also very pleased that there are several very young athletes
in this Team to the Philippines. There are altogether three
13-year old athletes, two in swimming and one in sailing; seven
14-year olds, four in gymnastics and one each in swimming, fencing
and sailing. But young as they may be they have all qualified
for the SEA Games on merit. |
| 8. |
You may recall that a young 12-year old girl also made her
swimming debut in the 1991 SEA Games, which was also hosted
by the Philippines. She won only 2 silver and 2 bronze medals
in the 1991 Philippines SEA Games. But she went on later to
garner 34 gold medals, 13 silver medals and 7 bronze medals
over seven SEA Games and 2 bronze medals in three Asian Games.
I am referring of course to Joselin Yeo. |
| 9. |
Some of our young athletes going to this SEA Games may not
return with any medal at all, but we hope that by giving them
this opportunity to compete at the Games they have taken their
first step towards competing with the best at the regional level.
How far they will each progress will depend on their dedication
and commitment to the sport. We hope that this SEA Games will
herald a new crop of champions from among our budding athletes. |
| 10. |
I know that there are a number of athletes who have trained
very, very hard and passionately with the target of representing
our nation at the Games, but are disappointed that they were
not selected. I hope that they will redouble their efforts and
keep trying. The SNOC and the SSC will also work with the various
National Sports Associations to ensure that the selection process
is as clear and transparent as possible, so that our athletes
and their coaches understand the requirements. |
| 11. |
It leaves me now to thank the many sponsors who have come
forward to support Team Singapore at the SEA Games:- Novena
Square Investments Limited for allowing us the use of their
mall free of charge for this flag presentation ceremony, GlaxoSmithKline
for providing the vaccines for the flu vaccination for the athletes
and officials, Nestle for providing cereal bars and the Milo
energy drink for our athletes in the Philippines and Sunrise
and Company for supplying the ‘Yonex’ attire for
the team. |
| 12. |
On a final note, I would like to wish Oon Jin Teik, Chef de
Mission to the 23rd SEA Games, Nancy Chia, Chef de Mission to
the 3rd ASEAN Para Games, the athletes and officials all the
very best at the Games. Do your best in the Philippines to round
up a good sporting year for 2005. I look forward to joining
you and cheering you on at the Games. |
