You are here: Home > News & media > Media >
Monthly archives
14 November 2006
The first-ever joint flag presentation ceremony for athletes representing Singapore at the 9th Far East and South Pacific Games and 15th Asian Games was held at ITE College East on 14 November 2006.
Guests-Of-Honour Mr. Teo Chee Hean, Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) President and Minister for Defence, Mr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports and Second Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, officially presented the flag to the Asian Games and FESPIC Games contingents respectively.
Mawjit Singh, established field athlete, received the flag on behalf of the FESPIC Games contingent, while sailor, Roy Tan, did the honours for the Asian Games contingent.
Leading the two Singapore contingents are Chef-de-Mission (CDM) Ms Nancy Chia and CDM Ms Annabel Pennefather for the FESPIC Games and DOHA Games respectively. Ms Nancy Chia will be assisted by Deputy Chef-de-Mission Mr Kevin Wong, Executive Director of the Singapore Disablility Sports Council.
Team Singapore will be sending its largest contingent of athletes to date, to the 9th FESPIC Games KL ’06. This is the highest-standard multi-sports competition for disabled athletes in the Asia and Oceania region, ranking just after the Paralympics.
A total of 39 athletes will be participating in six sports – swimming, sailing, boccia, lawn bowl, bowling and athletics. This is a significant increase from the FESPIC Games in 2002 where only 10 athletes were fielded across two sports and brought back 3 Gold, 2 Silver and 4 Bronze medals. Team Singapore is looking to push new boundaries and is optimistic about an improvement in its medal tally from the previous Games.
“All the athletes have gone through the strictest trials to come this far. We have also given them the strongest support they need in terms of equipment, training, mental preparation and even apparel – pushing for a ceremonial attire which they can be proud of and functional at the same time, and performance wear from our new official apparel sponsor – Adidas. Our contingent may face fiercer opponents like Australia, New Zealand and Japan, who have better resources than us. But we are definitely not afraid of the challenges that lie ahead in KL. Especially with the increased support we see from fellow Singaporeans this year, it is our firm belief that the contingent will not let Singapore down,” said CDM Chia.
The 9th FESPIC Games will be the last ever, as the Games take on a new name - ‘Asian Para Games’ - in 2010.
Compared to the contingent of 92 athletes and 50 officials in the 2002 Busan Asian Games, Singapore will be sending a contingent comprising of 134 athletes and 81 officials to the Games this year. Team Singapore will be competing in a total of 16 sports in Doha.
“We are sending our largest contingent ever to Doha. This is testament to the quality of our athletes. Every Team Singapore athlete will be striving for excellence and competing to win,” said CDM Pennefather.
This is the first time that Team Singapore supporters will be able to cheer on their favourite athletes and be well-informed of their performance through an SMS/MMS well-wishing campaign and SMS alert services. As a show of their support for Team Singapore, Minister Teo Chee Hean, Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, CDM Chia and CDM Pennefather initiated the launch of the M-service by sending well-wishing SMSes to Team Singapore athletes.
This year, a song of inspiration titled “When We Believe” – created specially for Team Singapore - also made its debut at the Flag Presentation Ceremony. Sung by Project Superstar finalist Hong Jun Yang, “When We Believe” will be aired on TV and radio in the coming weeks. Theresa Goh has been featured in the music video, alongside other Team Singapore athletes.
The 9th FESPIC Games Singapore contingent also proudly unveiled their new ceremonial attire during the Flag Presentation Ceremony. Read more here.