ADVISOR : RADM TEO CHEE HEAN (Minister for Defence and President SNOC)
EVENTS: UNVEILING OF THE EMBLEM FOR THE 117TH IOC SESSION IN SINGAPORE
VENUE: SWISSOTEL THE STAMFORD
DATE: FRIDAY, 14 MAY 2004, 4.00PM

Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for Community Development and Sports

Mr Ng Ser Miang, IOC Member in Singapore

Distinguished Guests

Members of the Media

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good afternoon,

I have been asked to say a few words, and I thought maybe it is an appropriate opportunity for me to re-iterate on the role of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Olympic Movement, the National Olympic Committee (NOC) and their relationship with Olympism. These are also the terms we often come across, but how many of us really understand them.

For most people the word ‘Olympic’ will conjure up images of the Olympic Games, and images of a two-week festival of sport held once in every four years, bringing elite athletes representing their countries in inter-communal competition. Most people too, will have heard of an ‘Olympiad’ which refers to a four-year period during which a Games may or may not be held. Few people, however, will have heard of the ‘Olympic Movement’ and ‘Olympism’.

The Olympic Movement is a grouping of all who agree to be guided by the Olympic Charter, under the leadership of the IOC. We the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) belong to the Olympic Movement. Others in this community include the International Federation (IF) of sports in the program of the Olympic Games, athletes, judges and coaches and the National Sports Associations (NSAs).

The Olympic Movement stems from modern Olympism. Modern Olympism is a philosophy expounded and conceived by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, on whose initiative the first modern Olympics Games was held in Athens in 1896. For those who don’t know, there were the ancient Olympic Games which originated in 776 BC in Olympia,Greece, but finally ceased in 393 AD after nearly twelve centuries. The importance of the ancient Olympic Games was such that warring states would cease their conflicts in order to honour the Games, a concept carried throughout the history of the Games as the Olympic Truce. Baron Pierre de Coubertin strongly believed in the noble competition of sports, and the ethos of the ancient Olympic Games when he initiated the modern Olympic Games in 1896. He felt that the Olympic Games should be the stepping stone for which the Olympic Movement and modern Olympism would grow.

What is Olympism? Olympism is a philosophy emphasizing the role of sport in world development, international understanding, peaceful co-existence, and social and moral education. From Olympism we derive the Olympic spirit and the Olympic values, of hope, equality, respect for persons, friendship and fairplay, dreams and inspiration, joy in effort, which are ideals to be promoted everyday. So while the Olympic Games is a coming together of the athletes once in every four years, Olympism is ongoing.

The IOC plays an important role as it takes the lead in the promotion of Olympism. Equally important is the role of the NOCs as they propagates the fundamental principles of Olympism within the framework of sport activity at the National level. I hope you now understand the difference between the Olympics and Olympism, and the role of the IOC, NOC and the Olympic Movement.

When the 117th IOC Session assembles here next year, I am sure their agenda will reach beyond just reviewing the sports program for the future Summer Olympic Games and deciding on the host city for the 2012 Summer Olympics, for the promotion of Olympism and its universal message is the IOC’s foremost concern ultimately. In this respect I applaud IOC for its 2004 Celebrate Humanity global promotional campaign, to try to reach out to all people of the core values and ideals of Olympism. I am sure it will be huge success.

Thank you and have a nice day.