| 1. |
On behalf of the Sports Community in Singapore
I welcome you to this MAP Award Presentation and Team Singapore
Appreciation Dinner for the 23rd SEA Games. |
| 2. |
At the 23rd SEA Games held in the Philippines from 27 November
to 5 December 2005, Team Singapore sent 367 athletes and 187
officials in total, and contested in 32 sports out of the 41
featured. |
| 3. |
The MAP Awards ceremony traditionally serves two purposes.
First, to honour the gold medal winners at the SEA Games; so
tonight we honour the 67 athletes who did us proud by bringing
home Gold from the Philippines. |
| 4. |
We congratulate all our medalists - gold, silver and bronze
- for their performances which helped bring our final medal
tally for the Games to 129 medals – 42 Gold, 32 Silver,
and 55 Bronze, our best showing in the SEA Games for quite a
while. |
| 5. |
Second, the Appreciation Dinner also says a big “Thank
You” to all members of Team Singapore each of whom played
a part at the recently concluded SEA Games; to all our athletes
who strived to do your best for Singapore, not just at the Games
but through many months and years of preparation and training;
our sponsors, the Singapore Totalisator Board who deserve a
special mention for sponsoring the Team to the Games and also
for making the MAP Awards possible; the media who brought the
excitement of the Games back to our audiences at home, and were
always encouraging our athletes; the supporters including many
parents at the various venues and even in Singapore who provided
the athletes with the support only they do best; our cheerleaders
who gave our athletes the little lift when they needed it most;
the team managers, coaches and the other team officials who
prepared the athletes for the competitions so meticulously;
and the behind-the-scenes secretariat staff who tended to the
administrative, logistical and medical assistance for the athletes
and officials. |
| 6. |
We will not be able to mention each and everyone of you here
personally because I have been told there are close to 600 of
you here tonight. So on behalf of our Guest-of-Honour and Mrs
Lee, Minister Vivian and indeed all Singaporeans who followed
the progress of our athletes at the Games, I say thank you everyone
in Team Singapore for a rousing performance in the Philippines.
This has been arguably one of our best showings in the SEA Games.
|
| 7. |
Before concluding, let me thank Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
and Mrs Lee for joining us this evening to do the honours. I
know that both PM Lee and Mrs Lee were so enthused by the performance
of our athletes that they really wanted this opportunity to
meet all of you. |
| 8. |
Tonight is your night, and I wish everyone an enjoyable evening. |
