| 1. |
I am delighted to be here at the Singapore Sports
School for the flag presentation ceremony to the Singapore Team
for the Olympic Games in Athens and also to the team from the
Singapore Disability Sports Council to the Athens Paralympic
Games 2004. |
| The Athens Paralympic Games 2004 Team |
| 2. |
This year the Singapore Disability Sports Council will be
sending 8 athletes and 6 officials for the Athens Paralympic
Games 2004. Two will be competing in athletics, 1 in swimming
and for the first time, our athletes will be taking part in
sailing where we will be represented by 5 sailors. |
| 3. |
I would like to commend the athletes for the tremendous efforts
that they have made to overcome the odds and compete in the
Paralympic Games. We wish them all the best in their respective
events. |
| The Athens Olympics Team |
| 4. |
16 Singapore athletes will compete in the Olympic Games in
Athens next month. They will compete in six sports: Athletics,
Badminton, Sailing, Shooting, Swimming and Table Tennis. |
| 5. |
Our Athens Olympic Games contingent of 16 athletes is bigger
than our Olympic Games contingents of Barcelona 1992, Atlanta
1996 and Sydney 2000. |
| 6. |
However, 16 is still short of the 51 athletes we sent to the
Melbourne Olympic Games in 1956, and the 21 to the Tokyo Olympic
Games in 1964. |
| 7. |
I understand that Tan Eng Yoon (Athletics), Tan Eng Bock (Waterpolo)
and Eric Yeo (Waterpolo) who participated in the 1956 Melbourne
Olympic Games are here with us today, and that C Kunalan (Athletics)
of the 1964 Singapore Team to the Tokyo Olympic Games is also
here among us this evening. |
| 8. |
I hope that the presence of our Olympians past and present,
and our Paralympians at the Sports School today will motivate
our aspiring athletes at the Sports School to be faster, higher
and stronger. |
| The Multi-million Dollar Award Programme |
| 9. |
I would also like to take the opportunity today to provide
an update on the Multi-million Dollar Award Programme, or the
MAP. |
| The Olympic Games |
| 10. |
The MAP for the Olympic Games was introduced in its present
form for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. |
| 11. |
Under the MAP an athlete who wins an individual Olympic gold,
silver or bronze medal will be awarded $1 million, $500,000
or $250,000 respectively. |
| 12. |
As you may know the sponsorship for the Individual Awards
expired with the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. I would like to
thank our previous sponsor for the generous sponsorship. |
| 13. |
I am happy to announce today that Singapore Pools has come
forward to sponsor the MAP Individual Awards for the Olympic
Games. |
| 14. |
This sponsorship for the individual Olympic medalists by Singapore
Pools is in addition to Singapore Pools’ already existing
MAP sponsorship for Olympic team medalists. The Team Awards
for an Olympic gold, silver and bronze are $2 million, $1 million
and $500,000 respectively. |
| 15. |
Thank you Singapore Pools for your strong support for Sports. |
| The Asian, Commonwealth and SEA Games |
| 16. |
The SNOC and Singapore Pools have also had a re-look at the
MAP awards for the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and the SEA
Games. |
| 17. |
MAP awards will now also be given for an athlete who wins
more than one gold medal at the Asian, Commonwealth or SEA Games.
An athlete who wins a second gold medal at the Asian or Commonwealth
Games will receive a second award. An athlete who wins a second
or third individual gold medal at the SEA Games will also receive
awards for these medals. |
| 18. |
There will also be an intermediate category between the Individual
award and the Team Sports award, known as the Team Event award.
The SEA Games Team Sports award will also be raised from $20,000
to $30,000. |
| 19. |
With these changes, we believe we have packaged a most attractive
and comprehensive award scheme for our athletes to the Olympics,
Asian, Commonwealth and SEA Games. SNOC wishes to express our
heartfelt thanks to Singapore Pools for this. |
| The Spirit of the Games |
| 20. |
The National flag will later be presented to the Chefs de
Mission of the teams. |
| 21. |
As you carry the Singapore flag to Athens remember that you
carry the hopes of Singapore with you. Remember that you carry
the dreams of the young athletes who are starting out on their
journey at the Sports School and all over Singapore. |
| 22. |
Remember the Olympic Creed: “… The most important
thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just
as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the
struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to
have fought well.” |
| 23. |
I wish the athletes and the Teams all the very best at the
Games. |
| 24. |
Be exemplary in your conduct on and off the field. Do your
best for Singapore, and keep our flag flying high. |
| 25. |
I look forward to joining you at the Games and cheering you
on. Thank you. |
