| 1. |
It is an honor to be here at the Singapore Sports
Awards to present the nation’s highest sporting awards
to our best athletes. |
| 2. |
2002 was a very good year for sports in Singapore. As you
already know, at the 17th Commonwealth Games, Manchester and
the 14th Asian Games, Busan, we amassed 13 and 17 medals respectively.
This is our best medal tally in the Commonwealth Games and Asian
Games so far. In terms of gold medals too our 4 gold medals
for the Commonwealth Games and 5 gold medals for the Asian Games
bettered if not equaled our best ever performances. In just
11 days and 16 days of competition respectively our athletes
went on to set lofty marks and achievements, an act hard to
follow in future Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. Of course
this has also made the job of the selectors of the Award winners
difficult. |
| 3. |
The selectors too had to look at achievements by our athletes
beyond the two major Games just mentioned. Athletes’ performances
at other regional Games and World Championships mattered, and
here too our athletes excelled in 2002. Our silat exponents
stamped their mark by winning a few titles not only at the Asia
Pacific Championship but also the World Championship. Our women
bowlers made it a one, two in the World Masters Bowling Championship.
The junior athletes were also not to be outdone by their more
experienced seniors. Eighteen year old Kendrick Lee came in
second in the boys Badminton World Junior Championship, the
first Singaporean ever to reach the World Junior Finals. In
the Silat World Championship, nineteen year old Mohd Imran clinched
a silver medal. Eighteen year old Valerie Teo won the silver
medal in the Asian Bowling Championship. Our National Optimist
Team sailors, ages ranging from 13 to 15 years, captured the
Asian Optimist Championship title. There are many others I have
not mentioned here who came very close with silver and bronze
medals, from notably swimming, table tennis, silat and sailing,
which augurs well for the future of sports in Singapore. |
| 4. |
Because it has been a very rewarding year for sports in 2002,
the Awards Selection Committee had a difficult task. The achievements
of several of our athletes this year would, in a leaner year
for sporting achievements easily won for him or her the Sportsman,
Sportswoman, Sportsboy or Sportsgirl Awards. Unfortunately there
can only be one winner for each category. But for all of us,
the whole nation, celebrates that there have been so many winners
in 2002. |
| 5. |
Let us remind ourselves during these challenging times, that
sports and sporting achievements can provide inspiration and
uplift the human spirit. |
| 6. |
The great athletes pick themselves up, and persevere to come
back winners. I am reminded of one of the greatest athletes
of recent times, four times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong.
Already a world road racing champion in 1996 he was forced out
of a bike race that year in excruciating pain, only to discover
that he had advanced testicular cancer that had spread to his
lungs and brain. He battled operations, chemotherapy and ‘cocktails’
of drugs for about two years before he was declared cancer free
in 1998. He got married, went on to have children, and returned
to cycling. But many were skeptical of his ability to return
to professional cycling at the top level. In 1999, one year
after he was declared cancer free, he annihilated the field
when he won his first Tour de France by over seven minutes.
This athlete went on to win this race, rated as the toughest
and greatest cycle race for its grueling mountain stages, again
in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Lance Armstrong fought the battles you
never dreamed off, our battles pale when compared to his. Lance
Armstrong’s struggles best epitomize the Olympic motto
“citius, altius, fortius” meaning “faster,
higher, stronger”. Many say that the motto also refers
to the struggles and the goals in a person’s life. Life
is all about battles or struggles, and one must not lose track
of aiming for the highest to achieve our goals, success and
happiness. I hope you find inspiration in this story of Lance
Armstrong, keep up with your battles to achieve your dreams
even if you missed it this time. |
| 7. |
Our athletes may not yet have achieved world wide fame. But
their achievements and endeavours resonate with Singaporeans
who have cheered them on and supported them. |
| 8. |
My congratulations to the winners of tonight’s main
Awards. You have reached one of your pinnacles in your sporting
career, but there will be many more ahead for you. |
| 9. |
Your success would not have been possible without the contribution
from your coaches, officials, families, employers, schools,
NSAs, SSC, media and the sponsors, all stakeholders of Team
Singapore. All of you have played a part in the success of the
athletes. I would also like to record my appreciation to the
sponsors for tonight’s event, Singapore Airlines for the
air-tickets to the main award winners, Tiger Beer for the chilled
draft beer served and Singapore Pools for the cash awards and
trophies to all the awardees. I must give a special mention
of Singapore Pools because they are the main sponsor of SNOC
activities, from the tickets of the athletes and officials to
the Games, to the MAP and Singapore Sports Awards cash awards.
Thank you Singapore Pools. |
| 10. |
2002 has been a very good year for the sports fraternity;
I look forward to another fruitful and eventful year in 2003.
Have an enjoyable evening. |
