President of Singapore National Olympic Council, RAdm (NS) Teo Chee Hean’s address at the SNOC Annual General Meeting 2003, on Thursday, 5 June 2003

Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen,

Welcome to the AGM

2002 was a very good year, with our athletes winning a record of 13 medals at the 17th Commonwealth Games, Manchester, and 17 medals at the 14th Asian Games, Busan. All this would not have been possible without the good work you have put in. I recall we had a discussion here in this same Theatrette in December 2001 to address our shortcomings at the SEA Games 2001, Kuala Lumpur, Many of you were present in the discussion, and we resolved to improve in the three main areas, Good development Plan, Regular Competitions and Mental Preparation. I also mentioned that SNOC would tighten up its selection criteria, and NSAs should nominate only athletes who they think can deliver. The good team results at Manchester and Busan indicate that this is the right approach. You have done well, let try to do better for the SEA Games this December 2003, and the other Games after it.

For the coming SEA Games in Vietnam there will be 32 sports and a record 442 events. We will probably be sending athletes in 28 sports, and giving a miss to wrestling, shuttle-cock, handball and maybe even boxing. Our gold-medal winning sports like bowling and sailing will not be featured in this edition of the SEA Games, so we have to count on the other sports included in the Games to make up for this loss. The Special Training Assistance Committee’s (STAC) visit to the National Sport Associations (NSAs) in March this year conveyed to you the need for good track records to substantiate the nomination of your athletes. Good track records come only from good preparation, and good competitions. The track record must show that the athlete is committed, talented and better still young and promising, because only the deserving will be selected. I trust you are all working hard towards this end. For those have only just started, or stopped because of SARS, it is time to step up a gear or two if you want to be selected for the SEA Games, which is less than six months away.

In last year’s AGM, Mr Ng Ser Miang, mentioned that an Athletes’ Commission (AC) would be set up some time this year. I am happy to report that the ExCo in its meeting in April this year approved the setting up of the AC. Dr Benedict Tan the Chairman of the AC has been invited to sit in the ExCo, and likewise to give the athletes a voice in selection, Awards and training, members of the AC would be included in the other SNOC Committees.

Finally I would like to thank the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) the NSAs and everybody who have worked so hard to make 2002 an eventful sporting year. We would also like to thank the Singapore Pools Pte Ltd for its generous funding of the activities and programmes of SNOC.

Thank you