26 Oct 2015
Mr President,
Singapore looks forward to the adoption of today’s draft resolution entitled "Building a Peaceful and Better World Through Sport and the Olympic Ideal". We are pleased to co-sponsor this resolution put forward by Brazil and welcome the ideals that the Olympic Truce represents.
2 Sport brings many benefits to societies. Besides encouraging healthy lifestyles, sport builds social capital and inspires the human spirit. More importantly, sport has a profound way of bringing people together in the pursuit of sporting excellence, transcending differences in socio-economic backgrounds, cultures and nationalities. The Olympic Games, the pinnacle of sporting achievement, have contributed to the promotion of peace, tolerance and solidarity in the world. The Olympic Agenda 2020 adopted last December, is a strategic roadmap in our global efforts to promote the Olympic Movement and safeguard its ideals, and strengthen the value of sport in sustainable development. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the President of the International Olympic Committee, Mr Thomas Bach, for his foresight and leadership in driving these reforms.
Mr President,
3 The Olympic Games have been a source of inspiration for us in building a strong sporting culture in Singapore. Our Vision 2030 Masterplan is best described as the story of how sport can be used as a national strategy to develop healthy and resilient people; forge strong and united communities; instil core values; create shared memories; as well as build a dynamic society and economy. The very attributes embodied in sport – tenacity, discipline, teamwork, leadership and a love for the country – are needed as we compete in a more globalised environment while maintaining Singapore’s social cohesion and sense of identity. These are principles that we want firmly rooted, not just in our athletes but throughout our society. We believe we can “Live better through sports”.
4 This June, Singapore hosted the 28th South East Asian Games, a biennial multi-sport event with participation of over 4,000 athletes. The games echo the timeless Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship and Respect. What shone through was the spirit of friendship among the peoples of Southeast Asia. While athletes competed intensely and spectators cheered vociferously, spectators and athletes alike exemplified sportsmanship and were gracious even in defeat. It is heart-warming to see that sport forges common bonds and brings peoples of different nationalities closer together, building a more peaceful and better world.
5 Come December, Singapore will be honoured to play host for the first time, to the 8th ASEAN Para Games (APG). This event celebrates the triumph of the human spirit over all odds and exemplifies the Paralympic values of Determination, Inspiration, Courage and Equality. The theme, ‘Celebrate the Extraordinary’ pays tribute to the tremendous courage and spirit of the para athletes who have overcome great challenges, not just in leading active lives, but excelling in their respective domains. Through the Games, we hope to inspire more persons with disabilities to overcome challenges and blaze new trails, and engender a most inclusive society.
Mr President,
6 The role of sport as an enabler of sustainable development was duly recognised in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As the UN and its Member States embark on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, Singapore firmly believes that we should harness the value of sport as an inspiration for us to aim higher and do development better, in our race to build a more inclusive, sustainable and prosperous future for our peoples.
I thank you Mr President.
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