Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Acting Minister for Community Development and
Sports
| 1. |
This 17th Commonwealth Games Manchester will be
our twelfth Commonwealth Games since Cardiff in 1958 when we
first participated. |
| 2. |
Since Cardiff, our contingent has gradually grown in size
with each Games, but our medal haul has diminished in the same
order. In 1958 and 1962 at the Cardiff and Perth Commonwealth
Games we brought home two gold medals each, won a silver and
a bronze medal at the 1970 Games at Edinburgh, and a bronze
each at Christchurch in 1974, Brisbane in 1982 and Edinburgh
again in 1986. Then in Auckland in 1990, Victoria in 1994 and
Kuala Lumpur in 1998 we did not win any medal, but not for want
of trying. In the last Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur we
sent our largest contingent ever, of 29 athletes. This year's
contingent to Manchester is 26 athletes strong inclusive of
2 disabled athletes. |
| 3. |
Why has our medal haul been lean at the Commonwealth Games?
Well, realistically the standards at the Commonwealth Games
have risen over the years, faster than the performance of our
athletes has improved. The standards are also much higher than
that of the SEA Games, and therefore our chances of a medal
are not as high. Having said this, however, when we send our
athletes to the Games we expect a good showing, personal bests
and gritty performances even though they may not get onto the
winner's rostrum. |
| 4. |
I am inspired by the story of Tanzanian athlete John Stephen
Akhwari, who in the Mexico Olympic in 1968 hobbled into the
stadium his leg bloody and bandaged. The winner of the Olympic
marathon had already been declared an hour earlier but John
pressed on, and he soon crossed the finish line. Afterwards
reporters asked him why he had not retired from the race for
after all he had no chance of winning. He seemed confused by
the question.Finally he answered, "My country did not send
me to Mexico City to start the race. They sent me to finish."
I hope this true account inspires you the athletes to rise to
the occasion as you do battle in your competitions. We expect
nothing less than gritty performances at the Games. Any medal
won is a bonus for us, but we do hope that you will come home
with personal bests and national records. |
| 5. |
For the athlete or team who wins a medal, there is a bonus
of a different kind. This is in the form of the Multi-Million
Dollar Award Programme, MAP for short. I would like to thank
Singapore Pools for their monetary cash award scheme in MAP,
no mean amount I assure you. Singapore Pools' cash award scheme
in MAP helps inspire the athletes as they strive toward their
dream of a medal, as they put it so aptly in their advertisement
in the papers, "Realising Dreams". SNOC is especially
grateful to Singapore Pools for their funding of our events
and projects, of which the sponsorship of MAP and the Singapore
Contingent to Manchester are part of. |
| 6. |
On this note I would like to wish Annabel Pennefather, the
Chef-de-Mission and each of the athletes in our Contingent success
at the 17th Commonwealth Games. I look forward to meeting you
at the Games and cheering you on. |
