Olympic and Paralympic Achievements

12.31 pm

The Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (Mr Edwin Tong Chun Fai): Mr Speaker, I beg to move, "That this House congratulates our Team Singapore Olympians and Paralympians, in particular our medallists Ms Jeralyn Tan, Mr Maximilian Maeder and Ms Yip Pin Xiu, for their achievements at the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games."

Sir, let me start by warmly welcoming our Team Singapore Olympians and Paralympians, together with their families and their loved ones, coaches, and other sporting officials, seated here in the Chamber and also in the Gallery this afternoon. Welcome! [Applause.]

Sir, every four years, the Olympic and Paralympic Games issue a challenge to all nations to send forth their best athletes, men and women alike, to showcase the heights of human potential through the common medium of sports which transcends all creed, colour and language.

The original motto of the Olympics was adopted in 1894 and coined by the Founder of the modern Olympic Games, Pierre de Coubertin. It is "citius", "altius" and "fortius" in Latin – and I hope I have not butchered it. Or as we know it better in English: "faster", "higher", "stronger".

What is less known is that after 127 years, in 2021, the motto was slightly modified to "citius, altius, fortius, communiter". "Communiter" is Latin for "together". So, the current motto of the Olympics is really "faster, higher, stronger, together". "Together" is also why we are here today in this House to pass this Motion to celebrate our Olympians and Paralympians. They are with us in this House observing the proceedings. We thank them and their loved ones for their presence.

But more importantly, we thank them for bringing us together as a community, as a nation, in a way that only they can, through sports. They have engendered a sense of "togetherness" that is so important for a young nation like Singapore to experience as part of our nation-building. The adjectives "faster", "higher" and "stronger" are known as comparative adjectives in English grammar. They are commonly used to compare one person or a team against another person or another team. But there is another deeper dimension to this, especially with the addition of the word "together" in the motto. Let me illustrate this with an example.

Forty years ago, in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, American sprint legend, Carl Lewis, won the men's 100-metre sprint with a time of 9.99 seconds. In 2024, the same event was won by American sprinter, Noah Lyles, at 9.79 seconds. In fact, he won it by 5000th of a second. I am not sure the human eye or brain could process it. But more importantly, the slowest qualifying time for the men's 100-metre final at Paris 2024 was 9.91 seconds, which means if legend Carl Lewis had run the same race in 2024 as he did in 1984 to win the gold, he would not have even qualified for the Finals in Paris.

This, Sir, is progress for athletics and it is also progress for the human race. When we compete in a friendly and fair manner repeatedly over time, everyone in the field improves. Fair and friendly competition is good for everyone. We progress, together.

Sir, 33 of Singapore's best athletes competed at the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games. They competed against the world's best, carrying the weight of our nation's hopes and dreams. They stood out, not just as individuals, but also represented Singapore's collective aspirations. I had the privilege of attending the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics, where I witnessed firsthand our athletes' determination and resolve, even as they stood up against formidable opponents. Not all our Olympians and Paralympians present today won a medal in Paris. But they are all winners. They have all fought hard in the toughest of arenas and pushed themselves above and beyond their limits.

As Jesse Owens, another Olympic legend, once said, "The only victory that counts is the one over yourself." And our athletes have achieved this victory. They have not just represented our nation with distinction, but they have conquered themselves. And we thank, and we honour, Team Singapore athletes for being our source of inspiration and for being our role models.

Overall, our Team Singapore Contingent had an illustrious campaign. They came home with two gold medals, a silver and a bronze, two national records and two personal bests. We also brought back our best ever medal haul at the Paralympics. And amongst our three medallists, two of them, Jeralyn and Max, made it to the podium at the first time of asking, on their debut.

Mr Speaker, allow me to say a little more about our medallists who have made us tremendously proud. What resonates with us, though, goes well beyond tangible medal achievements. More important is the resilience we saw in their attitudes and the grace with which they have conducted themselves and flown our flag so proudly.

First, we have Jeralyn Tan, our first Paralympic silver medallist for boccia. Her story is about conviction and perseverance, sticking through the tough times. In her early years of competing, she faced multiple setbacks and losses. But she pressed on. After several years of hard work and winning three editions of the World Boccia Cup in 2023 and 2024, she is now the world's top-ranked boccia player in her class. She qualified for the Paralympics this year, and as you would know, she came back with the historic first medal in boccia, winning the silver. I would add that she was a whisker away from the gold – it went down to the very last ball. But I am sure this will only inspire and motivate Jeralyn even more in future editions of the Paralympics. [Applause.]

Second, our Olympic bronze medallist, kitefoiler, Max Maeder. Max's story is about courage and sportsmanship and being an inspirational role model for our youths in Singapore. I am sure all of you will remember that Max gave Singapore a wonderful birthday present on National Day this year, winning the bronze medal. At 17 years old and making his debut at the Olympics, Max was not just the youngest Singaporean athlete to win an Olympic medal. He was also the youngest in the world to win an individual sailing medal at the Olympics ever. We saw his determination and sportsmanship when he came up against world-class opponents, older and more experienced than him. But Members, if you get a chance to have a chat with this fine young gentleman, you will be struck by his passion, his maturity, and his humility at his young age. Max's story shows that we can, and indeed, every Singaporean must dare to dream big and chase the rainbow, no matter the odds, and of course, as he has shown, no matter the age.

Third, Yip Pin Xiu – our double-gold medallist in swimming. Pin Xiu's story is familiar. It is one of consistency and longevity at the highest level, but also about selfless service to the community and to our nation. Pin Xiu is not only Singapore's most decorated Paralympian, having won double gold in the S2 Women's 50-metre and 100-metre backstroke events, over the past three editions of the Paralympics. She has effectively made these events her own – six gold medals over three editions of the Paralympics, 50 metres and 100 metres.

Remarkedly, Pin Xiu's first gold medal was won 16 years ago in 2008 in Beijing – a champion in every sense. But perhaps what is more remarkable is how she uses her standing and her sporting achievements to champion causes that she believes in. Pin Xiu has made extensive contributions to our nation, as a passionate advocate on social issues – on youths, on sports, on inclusion for persons with disabilities. In fact, just over the weekend, she was out at the Purple Parade! Her stint as a former Nominated Member of Parliament, a current National Youth Council member, and a member of the SDSC Board among others – that is a testament of her selfless service to the community in a broad and diverse range of different sectors.

I want to add my congratulations to all our medal winners. You have done us all very proud. [Applause.]

Mr Speaker, I am sure many in this House as well as fellow Singaporeans, would have watched our athletes compete on television. But we only saw the tip of the iceberg or the sharp end of the spear as it were. An event like athletics or swimming can be over in 10 seconds. But we saw Team Singapore give their all in every event they competed in, leaving nothing behind in the cauldron of competition in Paris.

But it is not just their efforts alone. Behind each of them lies an entire support system that has enabled them to be at their very best against the very best in the world. We all know the saying that it takes a village to raise a child. But I think it takes more than a village – in this case, maybe a whole town – to raise an athlete to compete and challenge at the highest levels. This includes their families, the coaches, trainers, physiotherapists, nutritionists, psychologists, sports administrators and even sport associations. All of them collectively play an important role, creating an environment that enables our athletes to thrive. This list goes on.

I would therefore like to express my deep appreciation to these people who are often unnamed, work quietly behind the scenes in the background, no fuss, to make things happen perfectly for our athletes. They are a key part of Team Singapore, and an integral part of our success at these Olympics and Paralympics. And it is indeed a victory founded on the Olympic spirit of "togetherness". Their collective efforts have enabled our athletes to better themselves. And I thought it would be useful to give come colour to what I am saying with some examples for Members.

First, let me talk about coach Yurnita. She is Jeralyn's coach and has has been for many years. But she is not just a coach, she is also Jeralyn's closest confidant, throughout her long journey. Their relationship spans many years, and they were involved in countless competitions – locally as well as abroad. At the Paralympics, at the end of her quarter-finals match, Jeralyn was up against the world number one in the quarter finals. We saw a very astute strategic suggestion that coach gave to Jeralyn which Jeralyn executed to perfection. From a defensive position, she pulled off a stunning shot, unerring in accuracy and perfect in weight. It completely closed off her opponent's angles and frustrated all of her opponent's remaining shots. This move, which was brilliant, won Jeralyn the match. Eventually, she made it to the finals where she won the silver.

Coach Yurnita had to judge not just what would work in the context of strategy in the match, but more importantly, whether in that situation, could Jeralyn pull it off. The coach's deep bond and understanding with Jeralyn allowed her to make the right call at the right time for the athlete. In the coach's own words, the both of them are "not just like friends; we are like family". I saw this myself at the Paralympics – Yurnita celebrated every success and cried every tear, along with Jeralyn. This deep connection and trust allowed them to navigate both triumphs and challenges successfully together. We are fortunate to have coaches like coach Yurnita as part of Team Singapore.

Members might not know either that we had a very strong support team for Paris but sitting in Singapore. They were not even in Paris. They worked in Singapore, operating from a different time zone. These included our sport scientists as well as our medical team. They worked off videos and live data that were sent across, sometimes overnight, from Paris. They worked round the clock to analyse the data, make suggestions to ensure that our athletes peak, stay at their peak, and were able to compete in a high-pressure and unrelenting environment – everything from sleep to nutrition, physiotherapy to psychology.

They and many more are the invaluable unseen force behind our Team Singapore. I thank all of you very much for these efforts.

Finally, I also want to thank the many Singaporeans who supported our athletes through thick and thin. Many turned up in full force to celebrate the open-top bus parades a couple of weeks ago. Some even turned up in Paris, on their own, to lend their support and voices in person. And we received many more countless messages from Singaporeans, cheering them on in spirit. I am sure our athletes appreciated every single one of these expressions of support.

Mr Speaker, Sir, as we close the chapter on Paris 2024, we have to ask: what is next for sports in Singapore? Over the past five Olympic and Paralympic campaigns, since 2008, we have been doing incrementally well. We have reached the podium at all Paralympics since 2008, winning 14 medals in total. We have also achieved podium success in four out of five editions of the Olympics.

As our Prime Minister said at the National Day Rally, we must find a way to build on these successes and for sport to be a key pathway to success. So, how do we now build on our strong foundations and strive towards our next bound of sporting excellence? For starters, we have no time to lose. Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032 will be upon us in no time. We have already started preparations.

Renowned American Car Racer Bobby Unser Jr said it well when he said: “Success is where preparation and opportunity meet”. So, what do we have to do? We have to work hard, so that when that opportunity arrives, we will be prepared to make a success of it.

Sir, in my view, the best way to honour the success of our athletes is to ensure that we build on their success today. We want today’s athletes to be the giants on whose shoulders our tomorrow's athletes stand. To reach further, faster, stronger, higher together. So that we can also achieve more, with each succeeding generation of Team Singapore athletes.

Let me therefore recap some of our key strategies to achieve this. Our first strategy starts at the base, driving keen interest and wide participation in sports. On the whole, Singaporeans have embraced the value of participating in sports. In 2015, 54% of Singaporeans participated in sports weekly. In 2023, that figure has grown to 73%. We are not yet satisfied, we will press on. Not just to broaden but to deepen participation.

Our ActiveSG academies and clubs allows youths to take part in a variety of affordable sports programmes. These programmes are held in our network of Sports Centres right across Singapore, covering 10 different sports. For those who may not be able to afford to be on these programmes, we have set up the SportCares Bursary, which covers the full cost of the participation fees for these programmes.

Key to increasing sports access to our youths is also our partnership with the Ministry of Education (MOE). For instance, MOE and SportSG run the Strategic-Partnership CCA programme, for example in sports like water polo and athletics, to allow students with otherwise no access to these co-curricular activities (CCAs) to be able to take part in and participate in these sports.

We have also opened the Sports Hub for more National School Games Finals. A record number of National School Game events, now take place at the Sports Hub. Why? We want to allow our children to experience playing in the same venue as the national team. An experience that they will not easily forget and will hopefully inspire them for years to come.

The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) is committed to working with MOE to improving our talent pathways through policies like the Direct School Admission. This must be complemented by each of our national sports associations' (NSAs’) efforts to broaden the appeal of their sport. Make it attractive and accessible, build up demand for it so that more schools will offer these sports to start with.

For the community, we have also built up a vibrant community sporting calendar with competitions like the ActiveSG Cup and Pesta Sukan. I hope some Members here have had the opportunity to take part in those events at the grassroots level. These events not just allow us to take part in a sport that is healthy, driving participation, but also helps us to bring the community together.

We have also established, over time, a network of world-class sports facilities that are located closer to all of us, in our neighbourhoods, removing that one last excuse of the centres and facilities being too far away. For example, our refreshed sports centres at Delta and Choa Chu Kang, our future developments like Toa Payoh and Punggol. We now cannot complain that the facilities are too far away.

Our second strategy is to strengthen our high-performance sport system to be athlete-focused and to give our best athletes the best preparation possible.

Our sports institutions like the Singapore Sport Institute (SSI) and National Youth Sports Institute (NYSI) work closely with our NSAs to provide our athletes with the best training environment, every day on a daily basis. We also want to give our athletes access to the best facilities, the top coaches, world-class competitions as well as to benefit from end-to-end sports science support.

Take our top athletes like Swimmer Sophie or Shooter Xiu Hong who are in the Chamber here today. The spexScholarship that they are on unlocks their potential, gives them a base, providing monthly stipends and dedicated sports science support, allowing them to be fully focused, invested in their sport, training, competing, full-time.

We also recognise that our top athletes must be constantly challenged. And so, we send our athletes to train and to compete overseas regularly, allowing our athletes to spar with some of the world's best.

Take, for example, our table tennis team. They were able to participate in a range of camps and competitions, in the lead-up to the Olympics. In fact, prior to being in Paris, they spent an extensive period in Shimada City, Japan, before the 2024 World Table Tennis Team Championships.

Sir, I mentioned the spexScholarship. This has been one of our most successful high-performance pillars. So, we extended the spex support for our athletes. The number of spexScholars has grown from 61 in 2013 to more than 100 in the last two years. So, more athletes on the programme covering a bigger range, a wider range, of different sports. Collectively, the spexScholars form the core of our Paris Olympics and Paralympics contingent.

We have also gone further upstream, recognising that sometimes we need to give support at an earlier phase in the athlete's development, supporting more promising athletes, earlier on in their sporting journey. This year, we saw our first cohort of 48 spexPotential athletes, awarded to athletes who are on the cusp of a breakthrough and who might require that additional nudge or push to help them make the leap.

Overall, Sir, an enhanced spex support, twinned with the programme at Singapore Sports School provides a comprehensive pathway for our youths to achieve their sporting programmes. Established 20 years ago now, the Singapore Sports School provides a unique educational offering, wrapping academics around sports, optimising student-athletes’ development in sports whilst at the same time ensuring that they have the best opportunity to maintain their academic pursuits.

Indeed, the Sports School’s results speak for themselves on the sporting stage. Over these two decades, they have produced 19 Olympians and 17 World Champions, some of whom are here today: Amita, Izaac and Shanti are proud alumni of the Sports School.

We also recently announced the spexEducation Undergraduate Scholarships and the Central Provident Fund (CPF) top-ups for our spexScholars. This helps take care of a very important aspect of our athlete's needs – academic qualifications and financial stability. We did so because we know how much our athletes sacrifice when they pursue their sporting ambition. These initiatives therefore provide our athletes the assurance that their education and financial needs can be supported as they journey on their sporting ambition. This helps them maintain and remain committed to sports in the long term.

Our third strategy is to enhance our institutional capabilities in every aspect of sporting support. From cutting-edge sports scientists, to world-class coaches, to technical officials, as examples. The whole sporting ecosystem must grow.

For instance, our sport scientists are playing an increasingly crucial role in preparing our athletes. I gave some examples earlier of how we operated out of Singapore, supporting our athletes in Paris. What they do off the field of play, has a very important and significant bearing on our athletes’ performances.

We also know all too well how a good coach makes all the difference. And so we support the NSA when they identify a good coach they wish to bring in and help us, overall, in our Singapore sporting system, to grow.

For instance, when Fencing Singapore wanted to bring in a world-class coach in Oleg Matshuchiek, we supported them. I have met Oleg. He is a top fencing coach. He was previously with the Japanese national team. He led them to two Olympic silver medals. Today, he is part of Team Singapore, focused on training our fencers and turning them into world-class athletes competing with the best on the world's best platforms.

We will continue working with our NSAs to develop, identify and bring in the best coaches, to benefit not just our athletes but also develop our own local coaching talent.

We must also build up sporting thought leadership. Take, for example, technical officials. We had at least 10 technical officials at the Paris Olympics, representing Singapore in sports such as hockey, gymnastics and diving. Their expertise and their know-how help us, in turn to lift our sporting standards. It also profiles Singapore sport on the world stage and positions us to host world-class sporting events in the future.

A number of our former athletes have also become our sports specialists. We tap into their experience and know-how and the fact that they are very familiar with the circuit. Former shuttler, Kelvin Ho, is now our singles head coach for our shuttlers. And our former Olympic sailor, Mr Xu Yuan Zhen, was the assistant team manager, for our sailors Ryan and Max. I watched Yuan Zhen in action – he brought all of his Olympic experience to bear, preparing, mentoring our young sailors, giving them an idea as to what is going to happen, how to take control of the situation, how to deal with the mental aspect of the sport, so that they all gain a competitive advantage.

We will therefore build up this talent, retain our ex-sportsmen and sportswomen as much as possible, keep them in this space, leverage off the experience that they have and hope to make sports a viable career for each of them.

Our fourth strategy is to bring in world-class sporting events into Singapore, where we can. Not just for sporting spectatorship value but also to provide more opportunities for our national athletes to compete and measure themselves against the world’s best, such as for Izaac Quek when he was 16 years old.

He first competed in the 2022 edition of Singapore Smash, one of the more prestigious events in the world. He lost that match in 2022, but he picked up very important big match experience which would otherwise have been difficult for a young boy about to breakthrough, to master. He came back stronger a year later, 2023, same competition, Singapore Smash. He was drawn against the reigning Commonwealth gold medallist. He was two sets down, but he came back to win 3-2 and he progressed further in Smash that year. Later that year, he won three SEA Games gold medals and this year, in July, he made his debut at the Olympics.

You can see the value of having world-class events in Singapore. We get wildcards for our athletes, they take part, they compete, they participate, they gain the experience and then, their improvement is exponential.

The Government has committed to invest $165 million, as the Prime Minister has announced, in the Major Sports Events over the next four years. In the coming years, Singaporeans can expect world-class events such as the World Chess Championships and the World Aquatics Championships, para swimming, and we will also be building a new 18,000-seater indoor arena, allowing us to host these world-class sports events and also strengthening Singapore’s position as an attractive destination for sports, entertainment and lifestyle.

Our fifth strategy is to strengthen our support for disability sports, to promote more participation and to set up a stronger pipeline for excellence. I will say more about this when we launch the Disability Sports Master Plan (DSMP) next month, but let me sketch out a few key points.

Sir, we are committed to transforming the lives of our persons with disabilities through the power of sports. We have seen that time and time again, how important how sport is to participation, uplifting morale, giving us a sense of self-worth. We will therefore progressively enhance accessibility to public sports facilities.

SportSG has already retrofitted eight swimming pools with ramps for wheelchairs, two more pools will have ramps by the end of next year. We also target to make all ActiveSG gyms inclusive by 2026. Persons with disabilities can look forward to ActiveSG gym orientation programmes that will be ready by later this year.

But, Sir, inclusivity is more than just accessibility. Since the launch of the DSMP in 2016, sport participation among persons with disabilities have increased from 28% in 2015, to 46% in 2023. More importantly, beyond just catering to accessibility, SportSG and their partners have introduced a range of programmes for persons with disabilities to themselves take part in sports. Not just be at the venues, but take part in sports. There must, therefore, be suitable programmes to encourage a stronger sense of participation and community. The ActiveSG Para Sport Academy have also started programmes to provide persons with disabilities opportunities to participate in sports such as wheelchair rugby and para canoe.

MCCY and SportSG have also embarked on efforts to step up on our plans leading into the DSMP. Since last year, my colleague, Senior Parliamentary Secretary Eric Chua has led a taskforce comprising various stakeholders to listen to ideas, to take on suggestions and to push the boundary and the envelope on how we can refresh the DSMP. More than 800 stakeholders have been engaged and they have provided us with very good ideas which we will take onboard.

We will announce our recommendations to refresh the DSMP shortly. This will focus on more opportunities for persons with disabilities to participate in sports regularly, at the base level, having more participation and more opportunity. To also raise more awareness and to bring our community together, through unified participation like Play Inclusive, bringing able-bodied persons with persons with disabilities on the same team, taking part collectively. And also to have a clear pathway for sporting excellence as we nurture, cultivate and develop sporting talent for the next generation of disability sports excellence.

Sir, our sixth strategy that I will talk about today is to deepen our partnership amongst the various sporting institutions in Singapore. Sir, we are a small country, with a smaller population than most countries. But if we pull in the same direction, work collectively, united, we can turn our size into an advantage. NSAs, SportSG, SSI, NYSI, Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) and Singapore National Paralympics Council (SNPC) have to be cohesive and concerted in our efforts to advance sports together in Singapore.

At the same time, we will gradually step up professionalising the talent that we have in sports administration. This overall will benefit our athletes as well as the support structure for our athletes.

Sir, as I conclude, let me just recap. I have briefly outlined our key strategies. We build the base, we strengthen the pipeline, we invest in technical expertise in sports science, we professionalise our sports administration. We need to find a way to bring this all together. We have six strategies, but it is important that they work in tandem and they work cohesively.

At the National Day Rally this year, the Prime Minister announced the Kallang Alive Masterplan. It is a bold and comprehensive plan to put sports firmly at the front our agenda, to create a clear pathway for success for Singaporeans through sports. It will allow younger Singaporeans to choose sports first and be supported in their choice. The Kallang Alive plans will bring all our six strategies, coalescing them physically, literally under one roof.

We will bring together athletes, sports science, NSA, coaches, officials and Sports School into our Home of Team Singapore, which will be in the middle of our Kallang Alive Masterplan. All of these wrapped around with dedicated, world-class training facilities, a National Training Centre with facilities for Para Sports, and an expanded sport science and sport medicine centre.

We will also more closely integrate with our sporting institutions and bring everyone together to inspire one another, leverage and build on economies of scale, inspire one another and to collectively call ourselves one Team Singapore.

As the Prime Minister announced, the whole of Singapore will also be a part of this experience in the Kallang Alive Precinct, with the activation of the beautiful Kallang Alive waterfront area as well as the pedestrianising of the boulevard running through the precinct.

Mr Speaker, as I started this speech, I said that the best way to thank our athletes today is to ensure that we preserve and we build on the legacies of their successes. We also hoist in the lessons of their journeys and we do what we can to ensure that we will be better tomorrow than we were yesterday.

The Government does not have unlimited resources. No one does. But with what we have, you have our commitment that we will continue to support our athletes and their aspirations as best we can.

To our Team Singapore athletes, we know how tough it is to be an athlete at this level, to be constantly challenged, to keep yourself always at the peak of your levels. You are constantly pushing the boundaries of your potential, chasing greatness with every training, with every competition, and with every moment of preparation. The journey is filled with challenges, but then again, it is these very challenges and obstacles that will sharpen your instinct and strengthen your resolve.

Remember that excellence is not just about talent. It is equally about discipline, resilience and the ability to rise again after every fall. Stay focused, trust the process and embrace every opportunity to compete because each step forward is a victory in and of itself. More importantly, your efforts and achievements inspire and unite Singaporeans. You inspire us all to be faster, higher, stronger; to be the best, or if not, then at least the better versions of ourselves. And to do it collectively, together, as one Singapore. For this, we thank you very much. Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move. [Applause.]

Question proposed.

Mr Speaker: Ms Poh Li San.

1.06 pm

Ms Poh Li San (Sembawang): The Olympics and Paralympics are the epitome of all sporting competitions. Mr Speaker, Sir, I join Minister Edwin Tong and on behalf of all Parliamentarians, to offer our heartiest appreciation and congratulations to our Team Singapore athletes, our Chefs de mission, coaches, physiotherapists, team managers, SNOC and SportSG officials, staff and parents for their commendable participation and performance at the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics in Paris.

Amongst the 23 Olympics and 10 Paralympics athletes who competed, world champion kitefoiler, Max Maeder, six-time Paralympic gold medallist, Yip Pin Xiu, and boccia world number two, Jeralyn Tan, flew our Singapore flag high as they emerged on the podium to receive their hard-fought Olympic and Paralympic medals.

Badminton world champion, Loh Kean Yew, managed to reach the Men’s Singles quarter finals. Swimmer, Gan Ching Hwee, set her personal bests and broke the National records for 800-metre and 1,500-metre freestyle. Once again, congratulations to all. [Applause.]

Los Angeles 2028 Olympics will come around faster than we realise. To help our athletes unleash their fullest potential and excel at the Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032 Olympics, SportSG and respective NSAs must now begin to work closely with our athletes, coaches and parents.

A world-class athlete starts training from an extremely early age. Michael Phelps, the American swimmer and the most decorated Olympian of all times, with 28 Olympic medals, was only 19 when he won his first gold medals at Athens Olympics in 2004. More recently, diving sensation, Quan Hong Chan, was only 14 years old when she won a gold medal at Tokyo Olympics in 2021. At the Paris Olympics 2024, French Paddler, Felix Lebrun, 17 years old, won two bronze medals. Our very own bronze medallist, Max Maeder, is also 17. Our table tennis players, Izaac Quek and Zhou Jingyi, are respectively 18 and 19. They are also amongst the youngest Team Singapore athletes to have competed in the Paris Olympics.

The Singapore Sports School can be our critical gamechanger. This year marks its 20th anniversary. Over the years, the school has produced 19 Olympians and 17 world champions. Some of our athletes have done well to compete at the highest level while balancing their education.

However, none of our six Olympic medallists till date, Tan Howe Liang, Feng Tianwei, Li Jiawei, Wang Yuegu, Joseph Schooling and Max Maeder, is an alumnus of Singapore Sports School. From a young age, Joseph Schooling, our only Olympic gold medallist, took the non-mainstream pathway to study and train in the United States (US). Max Maeder is home-schooled and has to travel abroad very frequently to train and compete.

The question here is, even though the Sports School has managed to have churned out 19 Olympians, how soon can the school produce an Olympic medal winner? We are all aware that nothing is predictable but after 20 years of not being able to produce an Olympic medallist, we would need to take a critical look at the changes required. We must understand the unique challenges and constraints in our current system and adjust our current strategy.

Here are three unique constraints. Firstly, even though Singapore has built a world-class sporting infrastructure, we do not have a world-class competitive ecosystem. As a result, there is a shortfall of high-level competitions and our athletes would have to travel frequently or be based overseas to train and learn from the best athletes around the globe.

Secondly, it is extremely tough and tiring for students to balance competitive sports with our demanding education system. While the Sports School has a very student-centric programme that works around their competition schedules, there is not such an academic programme in the higher institutes of learning. Our national athletes would have to follow the same academic and attendance standards as their peers in our local polytechnics and universities. This stringent academic requirement becomes very challenging whenever they must travel overseas.

Thirdly, National Service (NS). Their progress and sporting performance will invariably suffer a decline over the two years as they are unable to train and compete regularly. This enlistment period will inevitably coincide with the most crucial sporting peak years.

Mr Speaker, Sir, all of us hope to see more Singaporean athletes excel and fly our Singapore flag high in Los Angeles Olympics and beyond. I would like to offer two suggestions.

First, we obviously must invest in world-class coaches with a track record of developing Olympians, be it an international or a Singaporean coach. The coach works closely with the athlete on technical aspects, physical fitness and competition strategy. The coach is the most crucial partner for an elite athlete and this is especially so during the formative years. The athlete’s mental strength is critical for any personal breakthrough and is the defining factor between winning or losing. An experienced coach, and preferably once an Olympian, can better understand the intense psychological pressures and better prepare and strengthen the athletes’ mental resilience.

Most athletes in their teenage years are not ready for the pressure and limelight thrown upon professional sportsmen and sportswomen. The coach is the mentor to guide and protect them from unnecessary pressures and distractions. One example would be athletics head coach, Luis Cunha. He helped our “sprint queen”, Shanti Pereira, make her breakthrough after a seven-year plateau. Though already at age 27, Shanti won the 200 metres gold and 100 metres silver medals at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023. She has broken the national record for 100 metres and 200 metres multiple times. Coach Cunha himself was a national sprinter and had represented Portugal at three Olympics Games. Shanti credited her spectacular breakthrough to her coach, Cunha.

Former Olympian swimmer, Mark Chay, coached Paralympian swimmer, Yip Pin Xiu, since 2019 and she continues to fly the Singapore flag high. Former Olympians and national table tennis head coaches Gao Ning and Jing Junhong trained Izaac Quek and Zhou Jingyi since their formative years in the Singapore Sports School.

I hope that SportSG and respective NSAs will continue to identify and attract the best coaches, especially those with Olympic experiences.

NS is mandatory for all fit and eligible male Singaporeans and Permanent Residents, and there should be no exceptions. My second suggestion is to implement a modified NS programme for a handful of athletes who have already competed in the Olympics. This suggestion requires a paradigm shift as to the way we view NS.

So far, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) has granted deferment only to three Olympians, Joseph Schooling, Quah Zheng Wen and most recently, Max Maeder. Defence Minister, Dr Ng Eng Hen has also shared in Parliament in July 2022 that MINDEF is prepared to allow more national athletes to disrupt their full-time national service to train for international competitions.

The problem athletes face is that the deferment of NS duties till after the Olympics may in turn result in a deferment of the loss of critical training and competition window. As a result, the deferred NS duties may actually coincide with subsequent Olympics where the stakes may be even higher.

I would like to suggest a modified NS programme for athletes who have already competed at the Olympics and have the potential to excel at the next Olympics. A modified NS programme could include Basic Military Training, followed by a short specialist course, something that could be more intensive for a shorter period. Thereafter, the athlete is being seconded to SportSG to complete the remaining NS term. During this period, the athlete must focus on full-time training and competition, in preparation for next Olympics Games.

For his reservist, the athlete can also serve in SportSG if he is still actively competing. If retired, he may be posted back to the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), to be deployed to the NS reservist units as a specialist, to complete his remaining NS tenure or even serve his time as a coach.

So, I hope MCCY and MINDEF will consider this modified NS programme for Olympians. The time provided to them during the secondment period will be extremely critical for them to stay in top form, improve their international rankings needed to qualify for the next Olympic Games and hone their mental resilience for the battles ahead.

Competition at the highest level is relentless and the window of opportunity is extremely short. As a nation, we should be giving our top athletes the maximum resources and clear the roadblocks for them, so that they can go all out without reservations, to compete against their opponents on the global sporting arenas. We should not only be spending top dollars to build world-class infrastructure and sending our athletes for multiple training stints and competitions overseas. We must be laser-sharp in our focus on how our athletes may achieve their full sporting potential and help them. If our system does not provide maximum support to our top athletes, then we should not expect anything more from sports other than healthy living. I hope the MCCY and MINDEF will consider my two suggestions.

As a nation, we must be realistic and realise that our full support to all our athletes, coaches and Team Singapore officials, determines how our athletes will fare in sports.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the Motion put forth by Minister Edwin Tong and I hope our Los Angeles 2028 Olympians will shine even brighter on the world stage and continue to fly our Singapore flag high! [Applause.]

Mr Speaker: Assoc Prof Jamus Lim.

1.18 pm

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim (Sengkang): Let me begin, like others in this House, with expressing my appreciation and admiration to all our national athletes, regardless of whether they may, or may not, have medalled in the most recent Games. This extends, of course, to our most recent medallists in Paris: Jeralyn Tan and Max Maeder, as well as Yip Pin Xiu, our country's most decorated sportsperson.

All of us that have played sport will understand the enormous sacrifices and challenges that athletes had to endure to climb the pinnacle of sporting achievement. Their feats would not have been possible without years of gruelling dedication to their chosen sport, culminating in translating those countless hours into a competition-day delivery, that would have had to be one of the best in their lives.

This was undoubtedly the case for Jeralyn, Pin Xiu and Max, after which this Motion has specifically named. Jeralyn had trailed by five points at the halfway mark, but was able to muster a fierce comeback that forced a tie-breaker in the final round. It was her enormous composure and mental prowess in the face of tough odds that led us to our first Paralympic boccia medal.

Kitefoiler Max had to overcome a somewhat slow start in the first race of the final to pull into second place, but it was his steady consistency in the face of poor weather conditions during the finals that saw him ultimately snatch a place on the podium. In doing so, he tacked and jibed his way into history as our nation's youngest Olympic medallist – and of course, into our hearts.

And Pin Xiu displayed her usual fortitude, not allowing the complacency of being the world record holder or already having won gold twice in the 100-metre backstroke to faze her, as she clocked a historic three-peat that saw her taking home a gold on the second day of the Games, followed by another two days later, in the 50-metre backstroke. To them, and all the others here that have carried our flag, we celebrate and honour your immense physical and mental strength that have led to your wonderful accomplishments.

Without diminishing the passion and hard work that have driven our athletes to their sporting success, I would like to share some thoughts about how we reward them. As those in this House are aware, we currently have programmes that offer monetary rewards for medals. I had previously filed a Parliamentary Question to this House, asking the Minister for MCCY what the parameters were for determining the cash incentive rewards offered under the Major Games Award, or MGA, of the SNOC, and why a distinction existed between the SNOC's MGA and the Athletes' Achievement Awards, or AAA, of the SNPC when measured at comparable international levels.

Questions of this nature are not unique to me, of course. The People's Action Party and Workers' Party (WP) Members of Parliament had previously asked questions about the seemingly unequal rewards and recognition accorded to both athletes, with and without disabilities. This is clearly a matter of bipartisan concern.

In the Parliamentary reply by then-Minister for MCCY Grace Fu, she explained that the SNOC and SNPC were non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and that the MGA and AAA were decided by sponsors and donors. This response was essentially repeated by Minister Tong's response to previous Parliamentary Questions that have been filed.

The SNOC and SNPC are undeniably NGOs. But are they, indeed, NGOs of the same standing and milieu as, say, the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE), Sayoni, or the Humanitarian Organization for Migration Economics (HOME)? The SNOC was established to receive the official invitation by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to send Singaporean representatives to the Games. The current president of the SNOC is Minister Grace Fu, and past presidents and council members include Ministers and Members of Parliament.

And who are these sponsors and donors? The SNOC states on its website that the primary sponsor of the MGA is the Tote Board family, comprising Singapore Pools and the Singapore Turf Club. The SNPC has similar language describing the primary sponsor of the AAA. The Tote Board is a Government agency, and its activities, and those of its subsidiary entities, are regulated by various Ministries. Each year, the subsidiaries contribute hundreds of millions to nation-building efforts, and indirectly, to the budget through taxes on betting.

Hence, while it is true that the SNOC and SNPC are NGOs, and that the sponsors of the MGA and AAA are varied, it is difficult to see why the Government has decided that it cannot exercise greater influence over the amounts granted by these two sporting award programs. So, if the Government does choose to exercise greater influence over the MGA and AAA, the question that remains is whether the current amounts granted in each are reasonable from an economic and moral perspective.

What should the value of such an award be? Some have claimed that we ought to respect the economics of supply and demand. While I do not believe, ironically enough, that economics should be the basis for justifying such rewards, allow me to elaborate on why such arguments are somewhat naive.

The supply side is straightforward: this is the effort expended by our sportsmen and women that compete in major international games. But as any athlete will tell you, their driving motivation to perform at their best in the sporting arena often has very little to do with monetary gains. Indeed, most do it for their deep love for the game and would almost certainly do it for comparatively little money. And the fact that so many of our athletes do so, for generally low levels of remuneration, is a living testament to that reality. Many have put their lives on hold to bring glory to the nation.

Still, there is no denying that even our leanest and meanest athletes need to eat, drink and earn a living. At the margin, rewards for performance at the highest levels do make a difference in ensuring that our sportsmen and women are able to continue the pursuit of their passion, not least by allowing them to persist in the rigours of their training and climbing the ladder of competition during the lean years, where success is neither assured nor yet guaranteed.

In contrast, demand derives from us, the audience and supporters and lovers of a sport. Our interest – and willingness, to pay for the joy and entertainment we receive when we watch sporting events – is what allows a sport, any sport, to be viable enough that professionals can emerge. It is along these lines that some have chosen to argue that the comparative lack of demand for the Paralympics means that there is little economic justification to rewarding Paralympians with the same order of monetary compensation as our Olympians, when they medal.

Here is the problem with such an argument. While such dynamics may be true for any sport as a whole, it seldom translates into actual compensation for individual sportsmen and women. After all, raw market forces have seldom been the sole driver for monetary compensation in sport. If so, the US' women's soccer team – which both draws far larger crowds and generates significantly larger revenue, at least within the US, and has in fact, achieved much greater sporting success than the men's team – would not have filed suit against its own soccer federation for reasons of unequal pay. Nor would the athletes playing in the billion-dollar National Collegiate Athletic Association leagues continue to receive only limited compensation, in the form of tuition waivers, living expenses and endorsement rights.

Let us take such an argument to its logical conclusion. If we were to reward our athletes according to eyeballs, then surely our awards must vary by sport: differing rewards for soccer versus sepak takraw versus silat, in accordance with their popularity. But we do not, and rightly so; we recognise that we wish to support a wide range of sport, because we see the value in each one and every one of them. Rather, salaries and rewards in sport are determined as much by sponsorship interest, relative bargaining power and the institutional strictures, much like the payouts for the MGA and AAA are.

Sir, I have sketched out the case for why economics does not offer an unequivocal case for unequal treatment between the MGA and the AAA. But it is worth, perhaps, exploring the moral arguments, which I believe are even more compelling. Hence, another argument sometimes made to justify the differential rewards that Paralympians compete in finer categories; subsequently, their field of competition is correspondingly smaller and hence, they deserve less of a reward for rising to the top of that narrowed field.

To me, this is, again, a distinction without a difference. Fields widen and narrow every year, for all sorts of reasons. Birth cohorts fall in size in certain Chinese horoscope years and rise in others, but we do not tell those who were born in the year of the Dragon that their "A" Division golds somehow deserve more acclaim than those who had won in other years. Similarly, we do not tell our female weightlifters and bodybuilders that, because their sport is less popular among women than it is with men, or that more bodyweight categories exist in one gender versus the other, they should receive a smaller reward when they win.

Rather, our awards are simply organised by the coverage of the competition. If the rules for participation allow for global, continental or regional, we scope out award sizes accordingly, regardless of how many competitors eventually sign up. This approach is defensible, because it does not prescribe, in advance, whether any given sport or athlete should be deemed more worthy of a greater reward, based on their observable attributes. Instead, it focuses, as it should, on how many potential competitors there might be, based on the geographic scope of the competition.

This argument also glosses over the fact that what the different categories capture are disabilities. Lest we forget, Paralympians placed in these different categories are competing not on the basis of these classifications, but in spite of them. Hence, I personally find any suggestion that the athlete is somehow, even if indirectly, benefiting from this smaller field morally indefensible.

Sir, this speech has been about equal compensation. But life, of course, is about much more than that. I will conclude by explaining why equality in monetary rewards for sport implies something that goes well beyond the pecuniary. Certainly, our country recognises and celebrates the achievements of our Paralympians in many ways beyond the financial. But, in my view, not only are such accolades insufficient, they also strike me as inconsistent.

If these non-pecuniary benefits alone were sufficient, then surely no additional MGA or AAA would be necessary. Conversely, if we see the value to a monetary reward of even a single dollar, then it behoves us to explain why we are comfortable with a distinction between our able-bodied versus disabled sports people.

To put it in more concrete terms, we should be able to explain why Ms Yip Pin Xiu, our country's most successful sportsperson, has been rewarded comparatively less than others for achievements of a comparable calibre. I believe we should take the economically and ethically justifiable step of equalising the monetary awards offered to our Olympians and Paralympians in their respective award programmes.

I believe that this Government, as a key stakeholder in the IOC, as the controlling body of the Tote Board and as the elected leaders of our people and society, can make the call to do so. We should not defer the decision to other bodies with less standing.

Other countries have also taken steps to move toward parity between the two. Canada announced, at the start of this year, that medals for Paralympians would be equal to those of their Olympian counterparts. The US has done so since 2018 and even renamed their national governing body into the Olympic and Paralympic Committee. Host nation France increased funding by two and a half times, so that they would be able to reward their medallists equally.

We routinely argue in this House about ensuring equal opportunities for every Singaporean. We have repeatedly spoken about fostering a society of compassion and empathy and we await the passage in this House on the Non-Discrimination Bill, an idea that the WP has championed for a long time. Minister Edwin Tong has spoken of plans to revise and refresh the DSMP. Let us do so with the MGA and the AAA too, recognising the accomplishments of all our sportsmen and sportswomen equally, with the rewards that they so definitively deserve.

Mr Speaker: Mr Yip Hon Weng.

1.33 pm

Mr Yip Hon Weng (Yio Chu Kang): Mr Speaker, Sir, sports has always been a cornerstone of my life. From my school days to university and beyond, it has shaped who I am. In secondary school, I was part of the school's gymnastics team. In junior college, I competed in canoeing and dragon boating. These experiences went beyond competition. They taught me resilience, teamwork and determination, values that our Team Singapore, Olympians and Paralympians embody today.

As a former sportsperson and teacher, I have had the opportunity to understand sports from the inside out. While studying sports science at Loughborough University, a leading sports institution, I saw first-hand, the grit required to compete at the very elite level. I still remember those freezing winter mornings, waking up at 4.00 am and working as a lifeguard, watching national-level swimmers push through endless laps until 8.00 am, only to head straight to class. Later, they would return for another training session in the evening. That level of commitment is something I see mirrored in our athletes back home.

In Singapore, I have had the privilege of closely observing our national canoeing team. Their schedule is just as demanding, training many times a week, often with two sessions a day. Their spirit is unyielding, their pursuit of excellence is relentless.

Our athletes possess a unique drive, persistent to a fault and talented beyond measure. Yet, success often comes with sacrifice. For many of our athletes, the pursuit of excellence means setting aside tertiary education, stable careers and even long-term financial security. These sacrifices are not always visible behind the shine of medals, but they are real and they deserve our recognition and support.

Support for our athletes has grown over the years. The Government has been a critical part of this, from launching the spex scheme 30 years ago to establishing the Sports School in 2004. We have seen milestones, like the spex grants in 2007 and spex scholarships in 2013, which have transformed the sporting landscape.

Today, organisations, like the SSI and NYSI, form the backbone in nurturing and supporting our aspiring athletes. The mental well-being of our athletes deserves our attention, not just as they strive for victory but also as they transition into their post-sport careers. This can be a particularly vulnerable time and we must ensure that support systems are in place to navigate this change.

Do we currently offer a dedicated space where athletes in their post-sport careers can connect, share experiences and contribute their insights to shape future sporting policies? Creating such a community could be invaluable, both in safeguarding their mental health and in harnessing their expertise for the betterment of sports in Singapore. This would demonstrate a genuine commitment to their overall well-being, beyond the medals and accolades.

The private sector has also played a role. Contributions from the Tote Board and sponsorships for the Major Games Awards Programmes highlight that supporting our athletes is a shared responsibility. It reminds us that our athletes are not alone on this journey.

I am heartened that Singapore has taken further steps to support our sports community. The new spexPotential scheme ensures that aspiring athletes receive support earlier in their journey, long before they compete for regional and international honours. The spexEducation Undergraduate Scholarship guarantees that their education remains a priority. CPF top-ups for spexScholars ensure their future, housing, healthcare and retirement remains secure, even as they pursue their dreams.

Initiatives to make universities and workplaces more athlete-friendly further ease their path. Additionally, we must also consider greater accessibility in training facilities for our para athletes. They face unique challenges and often have to rise above societal expectations, facing obstacles beyond those of their able-bodied peers.

Enhanced access to facilities can ensure that they too, have an environment that nurtures their talents and supports their pursuit of excellence. The establishment of the home of Team Singapore in Kallang, announced by the Prime Minister at this year's National Day Rally, is another significant milestone. It is more than a facility. It is a dedicated space where our athletes can train, study and live.

By integrating the relocated sports school into this campus, we are creating an ideal environment for our athletes to thrive. It is a commitment to their daily grind and their highest ambitions, a signal that sports can be a viable career. These efforts matter because our athletes do more than just compete. They inspire us. Their achievements unite us, reminding us of what is possible when we push beyond our limits.

They embody resilience and instill a sense of national pride that goes beyond medals. However, we must acknowledge that these initiatives require significant resources and we must be strategic with our investments. The Government should prioritise support for athletes and sports that deliver the greatest return for Singapore, whether that is through national unity or international acclaim.

This approach, while potentially leading to varying levels of support across different sports, encourages our NSAs to strive for excellence, broaden their reach and inspire greater participation. Yet, I understand that this perspective may raise concerns. Some may question if this means focusing less on sports like football, which has traditionally seen significant investment but has faced some challenges in delivering results.

But we should not overlook the deep connection many Singaporeans have with sports, like football, and its power to inspire unity and community spirit. Thus, with any approach, we must balance the goal of strategic investments with the broader value that sports bring to our society. By focusing our resources thoughtfully, we can maximise the positive impact of sports on our nation, ensuring that all Singaporeans, regardless of their sporting passion, feel a sense of pride and inspiration.

In conclusion, Mr Speaker, Sir, supporting our athletes truly takes a village. It requires the entire ecosystem, from parents and coaches who nurture talent at a young age to the Government and private sector providing financial backing and to the community cheering them on at every step. This holistic support enables athletes to excel in their sporting careers and ensures that they are cared for as they transition into life beyond competition.

We have made significant progress in supporting our athletes through initiatives like the spexPotential Scheme, the spexEducation Scholarship and the CPF top-ups for spexScholars. These programmes ensure that their education and future are secure, even as they pursue excellence in sports. Equally important, we need to make training facilities more accessible for our para athletes, giving them the space to rise above unique challenges and perform at their best.

Let us also recognise the need for a dedicated community that supports athletes' mental well-being as they transition into their post-sports careers. Let us honour not just the triumphs of our Team Singapore Olympians and Paralympians, but also the sacrifices and dedication that fuel their success. Let us remember that behind every medal is a story of resilience, perseverance and national pride.

Our athletes inspire us, unite us and remind us of the power of dreams. Many of them are here today. It is our duty to stand by them, not just in moments of victory but throughout their journey. This means investing in their future, ensuring their well-being and celebrating their efforts, win or lose.

I call on this House to rally behind our athletes, not just with words of appreciation but with a sustained commitment to their growth and success. Let us build a Singapore where every aspiring athlete knows that they have a nation behind them supporting their dreams and cheering them on. With that, I wholeheartedly support this Motion and urge all of us to be unwavering champions for those who wear the flag on their chest with pride.

Mr Speaker: Ms Hazel Poa.

1.42 pm

Ms Hazel Poa (Non-Constituency Member): Mr Speaker, Sir, on behalf of the Progress Singapore Party, I would like to congratulate our Team Singapore Olympians and Paralympians for their outstanding achievements at the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games.

I am sure the whole House will agree with me that success is not defined solely by the medals our athletes and para athletes have won. It is defined by their courage to step up, their tenacity to compete and their grace to both celebrate victories and confront setbacks. Our Team Singapore athletes have shown exemplary dedication, perseverance, resilience and commitment to their sports. Their participation in the Games has inspired an entire nation and showcased the best of the Singapore spirit, courage, discipline and teamwork.

This year, we are proud to recognise three medallists, Ms Jeralyn Tan, Mr Maximilian Maeder and Ms Yip Pin Xiu. Ms Jeralyn Tan became only our fourth Paralympic medallist when she clinched Singapore's first medal in boccia this year. The medal is a crowning achievement for her long career in boccia. She has worked hard at the sport since 2008 when she picked it up at the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore School.

Mr Max Maeder has achieved a bronze medal in kitefoiling at just 17 years of age. He showed us skill, agility and calm under pressure against the world's best at the kitefoiling finals. These are qualities that will undoubtedly serve him well as he continues to rise in the sport. Since the Olympics, he has already gone on to clinch three championships in a row. We look forward to witnessing further sporting success from him in the coming years.

Finally, Ms Yip Pin Xiu is our most decorated Paralympian with seven gold medals and one silver medal to her name at this point. She has been a true trailblazer. Her achievements have inspired a nation and raised the profile of disabled athletes in our country. She has demonstrated that with hard work and determination, Singaporeans can excel globally and her success reminds us that there is no limit to what can be achieved when one dares to dream.

As we celebrate the achievements of our Olympians and Paralympians, I hope the House will also join me in recognising the tireless efforts of the coaches, support staff and families who have contributed to their success. Their sacrifices have helped shaped our champions. Mr Speaker, in Mandarin, please.

(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Speaker, on behalf of PSP, I would like to congratulate our Team Singapore Olympians and Paralympians for their outstanding achievements at the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games. They exemplify the spirit of tenacity and the grace to both celebrate victories and confront setbacks. Their participation in the Games has inspired an entire nation and showcased the best of the Singapore spirit – courage, discipline and teamwork. Here, I would like to pay my highest tribute to Team Singapore.

This year, we are also proud to recognise three medallists, Jeralyn Tan, Maximilian Maeder and Yip Pin Xiu. Ms Jeralyn Tan has devoted many years to Boccia and did very well at this year's Paralympics by clinching Singapore's first medal in Boccia. Maximilian Maeder achieved a bronze medal in kitefoiling at just 17 years of age and he will have a bright future in this sport. Yip Pin Xiu won two gold medals in the women's 50m and 100m S2 backstroke events. She is also the world record holder for both of these events, making her one of the most outstanding performers in Paralympics.

Team Singapore's success deserves our praise. Meanwhile, we also recognise the tireless efforts of the coaches, support staff and families behind the scenes, without which Team Singapore's success would not have been possible.

(In English): Sir, the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games have left an indelible mark on our nation. Let us continue to support our athletes, nurture their talent and build a sporting culture that empowers every Singaporean to dream big and pursue excellence.

Thank you, Team Singapore, for flying our flag high. By giving your best in Paris, you have made our nation proud, and we look forward to your future endeavours with great excitement and confidence. May your success continue to inspire Singaporeans across generations. Sir, I support the Motion.

Mr Speaker: Ms Jean See.

1.47 pm

Ms See Jinli Jean (Nominated Member): Mr Speaker, I rise in support of the Motion, and in recognition of the personal and professional achievements of each and every Team Singapore Olympian and Paralympian at the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The achievements bear testament to our athletes’ dedication and hard work. As important, the achievements also bear testament to the committed long-term support for Team Singapore athletes from different quarters of society. Such committed long-term support is no different from the concept of patient capital, a transformative approach to impact investing. How so?

Jacqueline Novogratz, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Acumen, a global non-profit venture capital fund explains that patient capital: “requires that we have incredible tolerance for risk, a long-time horizon in terms of allowing those entrepreneurs time to experiment, to use the market as the best listening device that we have, and the expectation of below-market returns, but outsized social impact.”

We used to view winning medals at the Olympic and Paralympic Games as a moonshot. This year, we join Ms Jeralyn Tan, Mr Maximillian Maeder and Ms Yip Pin Xiu to celebrate their hard-earned medals from the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games. Their successes inspire younger Singaporeans to hold fast to sporting ambitions. As a society, how might we raise the patient capital needed to build on 2024’s achievements and to give courage to more Singaporeans to commit to representing Singapore in sports at the international level?

In response, I call on more of us to recognise that the value of sporting excellence is lasting and wide-reaching and to acknowledge that there is a price to the process of achieving sporting excellence. The former, of recognising the value of sporting excellence, manifests itself in the visible pride that we have for our Olympians and Paralympians. We followed the Games and cheered them on as they took to the stage. We are proud of our Team Singapore athletes and their efforts.

The latter, of acknowledging that there is a price to achieve sporting excellence, requires us to adopt the mindframe of patient capital: think long term and impact-seeking. The decision to invest in athlete development and, in turn, sporting excellence, should not be solely dictated by what is tangible and measurable.

The Minister shared about Sport Singapore and various NSAs making concerted efforts to spot athletes at a younger age to provide them a longer runway to train and compete at a high-performance level. Nevertheless, we must respect the fact that progress takes time, and every athlete develops and peaks at a different pace. Therein lies the need to reconcile society’s orientation on goals and medals with the long-term horizon necessary for athlete development and success. The 3Cs can help us to align.

The first C: corporates that step up to the plate. More corporates can lead the way by contributing towards the One Team Singapore Fund that provides financial support to sportspersons as well as increase sports' accessibility to vulnerable populations. To signal its support, the Government matches dollar for dollar for contributions to the Fund and provides a 250% tax deduction to corporate and individual donors. Corporates, too, can communicate their support for our athletes’ longer-term development by pledging longer-term funding to the One Team Singapore Fund. Doing so would, especially, give a leg-up to athletes from emerging sports that might be more challenged in fund-raising than established and popular sports and yet would require more support and resources to achieve breakthrough performances. Providing greater transparency in the utilisation of the One Team Singapore Fund could encourage more corporates to step up to the plate as impact outcomes become more visible. The Government could also consider extending the Fund beyond its present end date of FY2027 and for a longer term.

The second C: coaches who are committed to longer-term athlete development. I represent freelance coaches and instructors in my capacity as the Executive Secretary of the National Instructors and Coaches Association (NICA). Many of our NICA members are sports coaches who deliver sports CCAs to public schools. I have fond memories of my involvement in various sport CCAs, thanks to supportive and caring coaches who challenged me to think and go beyond my self-imposed limitations. The experience has shaped my life outlook and reinforced the grit, resilience and fortitude that I draw upon to navigate life challenges.

For our athletes to yield outsized impact, patient capital must extend to supporting those who nurture the seeds of sporting aspiration in our younger generations of Singaporeans. Many sports coaches have shared with NICA their concerns about schools reducing CCA hours and seeking to taper down the competitive element in CCAs. They have also shared concerns about the challenges of eking out a career as a professional sports coach in Singapore because of dampening school demand and increased compliance costs. Behind every successful athlete stands a committed professional sports coach. I would suggest a review of the support to coaches and coaches’ livelihood as part of strengthening the ecosystem of support for athlete development. NICA stands ready to contribute to the review.

The third C: contributions of athletes are valued by society. We live in a practical society where success is often measured by achievements. Every athlete must develop a winning mindset and approach. However, athletes might not consistently yield medal wins as the fruits of labour. The glare of the practical society can be unforgiving and beset athletes with worry and stress.

What Prime Minister Lawrence Wong shared at his speech at the Institute of Policy Studies' 35th anniversary conference in 2023 is instructive. He said: “We must provide many more ways for our diverse talents to be the best possible version of themselves, to make a difference in their own ways, all deserving of equal respect in our society”.

Athletes who have invested a significant part of their lives, and oftentimes, youth, must know that their contribution is valued by our society. Athletes who hold down jobs would feel more assured, knowing that their employers value the diverse perspectives they bring. Athletes who are self-employed would feel more empowered knowing that their livelihood is recognised and their aspirations and needs are considered in Government policy development. More can be done to communicate to our athletes that their contributions are valued, beyond the sport and as part of the larger society.

Marcel Proust, the early 20th century French novelist, wrote: “Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” There is a price to the process of achieving sporting excellence. Our athletes have given their all to their calling. Their successes and achievements at the international arenas have inspired and energised us. Through them, we are united as One Team Singapore.

It now lies upon us, as members of Team Singapore, to be the charming gardeners to our athletes. Our athletes must know that they can count on us to provide the patient capital to invest in them, to encourage them on and to give them the confidence to overcome, aspire and excel. Let us rise to the occasion.

The Chairman: Ms Usha Chandradas.

1.56 pm

Ms Usha Chandradas (Nominated Member): Mr Speaker, Sir, I wholeheartedly rise in support of this Motion.

Our athletes give us so much more than just medals. They show us what it is like to perform under pressure and to work hard at a goal. When they succeed, the whole country unites behind them and cheers. And when they do not, we are privileged to be able to witness a masterclass in courage, grace and strength, as we watch them recover from their setbacks.

Our medallists have done incredibly well and every single Olympian and Paralympian who made it to the Games this year is a winner in my eyes. In support of this Motion, I would like to make three points.

First, would the Government consider doing more for athletes and para athletes who are able to qualify for the Olympics and Paralympics, regardless of whether any medals are won? The Paris Olympic Games saw about 11,040 athletes from all over the world taking part in 32 sports; and the Paralympic Games saw around 4,400 athletes competing in 22 individual and team sports.

Coming from a tiny country like Singapore, the act of even qualifying for a spot in the Games is a momentous achievement. On this point, I hope that athletes and para athletes can be rewarded more for the act of qualification. This could take the form of better profiling and publicity to encourage private sponsorship, or better outright cash awards and allowances.

My second point has to do with parity in the awards for our Olympians and Paralympians. CNBC Sport recently, on 29 August, published an article entitled "Here’s how much athletes at the Paris Paralympics earn for winning medals". The article, which is self-explanatory from its title, set out a list of how much para athletes are awarded by different countries when they win medals. Singapore was at the top of a league table of 13 countries, which is a fantastic achievement, but the article also noted that countries like Spain, Canada, France, Australia and South Korea were offering Paralympic medallists rewards that were equal to that of their Olympic counterparts. The article continued that Hong Kong and Singapore, which award the largest payouts to their Olympic medallists, still do not give out as much to their Paralympic victors. I acknowledge that there was an increase in awards for our Paralympians in in 2021 and 2022. In fact, this was something that was covered in today's Straits Times. This is an excellent development. But the fact remains that awards for our Paralympians still lag behind those of their Olympic peers.

I know this issue has been raised multiple times in this House by many Members, as well as by activist groups outside the House, but I would nonetheless still like to add my voice to the call for parity in the awards for our Olympians and Paralympians. I understand that these are decisions made by the SNOC and SNPC. These are non-government organisations, of course, and I am also aware that there is a long history to how these monetary awards were created, developed over time and funded.

However, I would like to highlight that it is also stated on the SNOC website that the Tote Board family, comprising the Tote Board, Singapore Pools and the Singapore Turf Club, is the primary sponsor of the SNOC MAP. The Tote Board is also publicly listed as one of the two primary sponsors of the AAA. As a Statutory Board of the Ministry of Finance, I hope that the Tote Board can assist and support the SNOC and SNPC in acquiring the additional funding to ensure that our Paralympians are given similar or identical cash prizes as our Olympians.

Of course, post-podium rewards should be paired with holistic efforts to support our athletes in their journey to the podium – one should not come at the expense of the other and it should also not be the case that the two are mutually exclusive. That being said, financial awards do have an important role to play. There is plenty of data on this, I will just highlight one research study today. This was published in 2020, in the journal Frontiers in Psychology. It was found in that report that when appropriately applied, financial awards can increase confidence, achievement motivation, coachability, goal setting and mental preparation for athletes. They provide clear external incentives to succeed. In this particular study, football players who were awarded financial incentives generally showed better performance when compared to non-awarded players.

More importantly though, cash awards also have a signalling effect. In this year’s Committee of Supply (COS) debates I advocated for cash awards for our Cultural Medallion winners and there are many parallels between sports and the arts scene in Singapore. Our artists and sportspeople sacrifice a great deal to take the path less travelled. Both the arts and sports play an important role in creating national identity and in making Singapore a distinctive home for us all. In a similar vein to what I said in the COS debates, cash awards will signal accomplishment and prestige, recognising the life achievements of our country’s best sportspeople. They will inspire others to embark on similar paths, and further encourage those who are already on the journey to sporting greatness. Awarding our athletes and para athletes with the same top prizes sends a powerful message of inclusion. One that tells our society and the world that we value both sets of athletes equally.

Finally, my third point is this: I would like to ask if it is possible for the Government to consider exempting from income tax, awards granted under the MAP and AAA. At the moment, a grant may be brought to tax depending on factors such as whether the awardee is carrying on a trade, business, profession or vocation in relation to their sporting ability, or whether they are an employee of a sports body. The very guidelines issued by the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore recognise that the status of an individual may change over time, for example, in one year, an athlete could be a recreational player, in the next year, he or she could be an athlete employed by a sports body or they could be an individual carrying on a trade, or similar, in relation to their sporting ability. This status can change within the course of a single year as well.

In these situations, a detailed assessment on tax liability would have to take place on a case-by-case basis. An exemption would not would only reduce administrative and compliance burdens on both the tax authority and taxpayers, but it would also send a clear message that these specific awards are granted as a pure reward for the recipients as a prize for a lifetime of their hard work. Successful professional sportspeople would still be brought to tax on their other earnings from private sponsorships and endorsements. In addition, winning athletes and para athletes are required to donate a significant part of their awards back to their NSAs or to the SNPC and Singapore Disability Sports Council or the National Disability Sports Associations. This is done in order to help fund future sports training and development, and so in other words, the award money is actually ploughed back into the sports ecosystem. It is not the case that once the funds are rewarded, that is the end of the story and there is no return to society. There is. So, we need to ask ourselves, do we really need to impose an additional layer of tax on top of these awards and winnings.

With all of this taken into consideration, I would make the argument that the risk of overall revenue leakage is arguably quite low.

I note the Minister's comment when he moved this Motion that we do not have unlimited resources in Singapore. I do that take that point. But I would, nonetheless, ask him and MOF to consider this suggestion.

I would like to conclude, Mr Speaker, by sending my heartiest congratulations to all the Team Singapore Olympians and Paralympians. Thank you for all that you have done for us and I wish you all the very best. Sir, I support this Motion. [Applause.]

Mr Speaker: Mr Ong Hua Han.

2.04 pm

Mr Ong Hua Han (Nominated Member): Today, we celebrate the successes of our national athletes, in particular Ms Jeralyn Tan, Mr Maximilian Maeder and Ms Yip Pin Xiu, who have brought immense honour to Singapore on the world stage.

To Jeralyn, Max, and Pin Xiu: your dedication, resilience, and sporting excellence were on full display in Paris. You have inspired all of us who were rooting for you at home. Thank you for flying the Singapore flag high and making us proud.

Before the Paris Games, “kitefoiling” was not a term that most Singaporeans have even heard of. Yet, after Max brought home the Olympic bronze, we have seen couch experts springing up all over the island, eager to discuss this exciting sport they have always known and loved.

Max may seem like an overnight success, but this cannot be further from the truth. It was years in the making. His well-documented story tells of a boy who started honing his skills and competing at the young age of 11. At 18, Max is already a decorated athlete and a household name. Max, you deserve all the flowers and we wish you many more fantastic years ahead.

Over to our medal-winning Paralympians. Pin Xiu and Jeralyn, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to you, on your remarkable triumph of the human spirit. In September, Jeralyn made history by claiming Singapore’s first Paralympics medal in boccia, in her Paralympic debut, no less. But many may not know, just two months before that, Jeralyn had to endure a heartbreaking quarter final elimination from the World Boccia Cup in Portugal. While others may have crumbled under a disappointment of this scale, Jeralyn demonstrated her never-say-die attitude and has now etched her name in the history books. Her strength in the face of adversity is a testament to her character and this must not go unrecognised.

As for Pin Xiu, welcome back, you are no stranger to this House and to sporting glory. You brought home not one, but two gold medals from Paris. I remember watching the 100m backstroke event and was incredulous when I realised that Pin Xiu won the event by a margin of 0.06 seconds. Even the commentators could not tell who won, in real-time. Pin Xiu, it must have been an exhilarating race for you. To perform at such elite standards, with seven golds and one silver across five Paralympic Games, is undeniable proof of your resolve and sheer willpower.

In my younger days, I took part in amateur swimming competitions run by the Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC). In the pool, I imagined representing and winning a medal for Singapore at the Paralympics. As you can see, that remains a dream I had not fulfilled. I chose the boring path. Thank you, Pin Xiu and Jeralyn for showing us, showing me, that dreams can come true, if you have the courage and the will to pursue it.

While we applaud our medal winners, let us not forget all our Team Singapore athletes who competed at the highest level. We see your sacrifices, your grit and your unwavering dedication to representing our nation with pride. You have given your all, and your pursuit of excellence is something we all deeply admire and respect. I hope you do not forget to celebrate as well, for you have truly earned it.

To those who supported our athletes – family and friends, performance coaches, sports scientists, psychologists, doctors and many more – your role is just as vital. We recognise you too, for your contributions behind the scenes have been crucial in unlocking the potential of our sporting champions.

Mr Speaker, sport has that unique power to bring people of all walks of life together. It is an inclusive force that can unite a nation. Our national athletes show us what is possible if you take sporting talent and ambition to the next level. But what about the rest of us, those who play sports socially, recreationally, or just to stay fit? What about those of us with disabilities? Where do we fit in?

Sports participation has countless benefits. Beyond improving one’s physical health, participating in sports also builds discipline and boosts self-confidence. It can reduce stress, prevent cognitive decline and combat depression. In short, sports participation materially improves our quality of life. This is even more so for persons with disabilities, as engaging in sports can enhance mobility, foster independence and build resilience.

Inclusive sports participation is therefore essential to ensure that persons with disabilities feel welcomed, so that they too can reap the benefits of sports. To make sports truly inclusive, it will take a whole-of-society approach. The Government, everyday Singaporeans, caregivers and persons with disabilities. All three groups have a crucial role to play.

First, it is vital for the Government to keep inclusive programming at the heart of policy-making, to encourage more to participate. For example, in mainstream schools, are we doing enough to include children with disabilities in physical education classes? Unlike their peers in SPED schools, students with disabilities in mainstream settings do not have a structured approach to sports participation. We need to do more to ensure that persons with disabilities are exposed to sports and its benefits at a young age, to give them a higher shot of sustaining sports participation later in life.

According to focus group discussions with social agencies and SPED schools conducted in the lead-up to the review of the 2016 DSMP, around 70% of non-participants said they were not interested in sports. This statistic speaks volumes. Building more accessible infrastructure alone is not enough. There is an urgent need to do much better in how we raise awareness and promote the benefits of sports. As we look forward to the update of the DSMP – and I thank Minister Edwin Tong for earlier giving us a glimpse of what to expect – it is critical to ensure that persons with disabilities and their caregivers fully embrace all that sports can offer.

Second, everyday Singaporeans have a part to play too. When you see someone who looks different from you, do you stare, or do you recognise them as part of your larger community? Simple gestures, like a warm smile, offering a seat, and other acts of kindness can go a long way. If each of us makes an effort to foster inclusive and accepting environments, more persons with disabilities will feel comfortable to show up, participate, and thrive in our shared spaces.

And third, all of this will remain an academic discussion if persons with disabilities and their caregivers do not, themselves, take the first step to participate. Change often begins with small actions. For those unsure of where to begin, setting personal goals can be a great way to get yourself motivated. These goals do not need to be grand or lofty. Sometimes, achieving the goal of being able to get out of bed independently, can be a rewarding and significant milestone. And from there, who knows where that progress will take you?

Our equestrians who are with us today – Laurentia, Hilary and Gemma – all started riding as a form of therapy. And look at where they are today. Whether you choose to turn therapy into a competitive career is completely up to you. If you have the interest and desire to challenge yourself in high performance sports, organisations like SDSC have the pathways to make your dreams possible. If not, taking part in sports simply to stay fit, make friends, and enjoy yourself is just as valuable.

Mr Speaker, a few days ago, I went for a swim, my usual routine on most weekends. Despite a fully-equipped and accessible ActiveSG Sports Centre, there was not a single wheelchair user in sight. It is my dream that one day, every sports facility will be bustling with activity, where everyone of every ability is included.

In closing, I wish to once again, extend my warmest congratulations to our Team Singapore athletes for their outstanding achievements. By carrying the torch and blazing the way forward, you set an inspiring example for us all to reach for greater heights, and shape the Singapore we want to live in. Sir, I fully support the Motion.

Mr Speaker: Ms Denise Phua.

2.14 pm

Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng (Jalan Besar): Sir, I stand in full support of MCCY Minister Edwin Tong's Parliamentary Motion. It gives me great joy to come together to celebrate the incredible achievements of Team Singapore at the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games. The 33 athletes who represented our nation have demonstrated the spirit of resilience, resolve and excellence, carrying our Singapore flag high on the world state. Thank you so much and congratulations to Team Singapore.

On the Paralympic front, we witnessed the legendary Yip Pin Xiu, our champion swimmer, who made history by clinching two gold medals this time. With these victories, Pin Xiu now holds a staggering total of seven Paralympic gold medals and a silver, cementing her status as Singapore's most decorated Paralympian.

Pin Xiu, serves with me in the Purple Parade movement, which sees thousands of Singaporeans coming together each year to show their support for the cause of inclusion and for the disability community. We sat in many meetings together and what impresses me most is her humility, authenticity and her willingness to constantly learn, not just in swimming, but in other things, in leadership issues and advocacy and so forth. I know Pin Xiu will go far as a woman of substance in life.

Congratulations too, to Ms Jeralyn Tan, who made her debut in boccia and for securing Singapore's first ever medal at the Paralympics.

And, of course, Olympic bronze medallist young kitefoiler, the charming Mr Max Maeder, the youngest Singaporean to ever win an Olympic medal.

But beyond the medals, it is so important that we recognise every athlete who participated in the Games, whether they reached the podium or not. They, on the road to Paris, they demonstrated the triumph of the human spirit, all 33 of you. Thank you.

None of this success would be possible without the strong support system behind each athlete. So, to the families, thank you for releasing and supporting the athletes to take this road less travelled. I salute you and you are as special as the athletes. To the coaches and the leaders and the staff of the NSAs, the Disability Sports Council, the sports institutes who tirelessly train and guide our athletes, ensuring that they perform at their best, your contributions have been invaluable. So, thank you all, members of this important support structure, for being the wind below the wings of our athletes.

I also want to express my gratitude to the Singapore Government as well and I want to give credit where it is due. Over the years, the Government has increased its investment in sports, not just in terms of infrastructure and funding, but also in terms of trying to build a more inclusive sporting culture. Our para athletes' achievements have shown us that sports is not just a domain of the so-called able-bodied.

The Government's inclusive sports investment has enabled both mainstream and Paralympic athletes to receive the support that they need to succeed on the world stage. Indeed, when I asked Pin Xiu what had been a game-changer for her swimming career, she mentioned the support she got from the support system, from being able to have access to the right coach and a high-quality sports science team. The success we are witnessing today is a direct result of this intentional upstream investment and we look forward to seeing even more growth in the years to come.

Next, let me now share a few areas I got feedback from past Olympians, their families and a few other athletes on where we feel Singapore has done well in developing sports talent and also areas that we can do even better.

What Singapore has done well in developing sports talent. The Singapore sports team has grown tremendously, especially in recent years and we have made significant progress in developing sports talent, both in mainstream and disability sports. One is in increased investments in infrastructure. The establishment of the Singapore Sports Hub and other regional training centres has provided our athletes with the platforms they need to participate and then to excel.

The announcement by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Minister Edwin Tong on the new home of Team Singapore in the Kallang Alive precinct presents an exciting vision. So, thank you.

The second thing we have done well, is also for support for our athlete development. Through initiatives, like spex, many of my colleagues have mentioned before, spexProgramme and so forth. We are seeing greater financial and developmental support for our athletes. SpexScholarships, in particular, have helped many of our athletes focus on their sports full-time while also pursuing their education or career.

The third is in youth development pathways. Singapore has also made great strides in identifying and nurturing young talent through schools, clubs and national age group competitions. Programmes, such as the NYSI, have played a crucial role in grooming the next generation of sporting stars by providing specialised training and education support for our student athletes.

The fourth is in inclusive sports development. One of the areas where Singapore has improved tremendously is the promotion of inclusive sports. Thanks to MCCY and the team, the introduction of more robust support structures for our Paralympic athletes, including dedicated training programmes and specialised coaching, has allowed them to compete at the highest level. Disability sports have seen greater attention, greater funding, creating more opportunities for athletes with disabilities to develop their talent.

It is, therefore, welcome news that the new home of Team Singapore, I mentioned just now, will have a dedicated training centre for para sports. I am also very pleased that a review of the 2016 DSMP, I think overdue, now led by the Senior Parliamentary Secretary Eric Chua, is now underway to further improve sports access for persons with disabilities, young and old, and I look forward to the Master Plans addressing ground aspirations, such as a bigger network of sports coaches, facilities and programmes also for adults with disabilities to participate and even excel in sports.

Next, on what more can be done. While we have achieved much, I think there are still areas where we need to do a little bit more. In broadening sports participation in schools and mainstream schools, although we have offered more opportunities, we should offer more opportunities for students of all skills level, not only those who are proficient.

We must also facilitate further the integration of sports into the curriculum at special schools to ensure that children with disabilities, especially those with higher support needs, are encouraged to lead healthy, active lives from a young age. Many of the special education (SPED) school graduates still do not. Not enough of them have adopted healthy lifestyles when they exit school.

This has to be intentional and has to go beyond a few lessons a week. More structured opportunities, both within the schools and out there, with the grassroots and the community, are needed. By fostering early sports participation, we can instill healthy habits that extend into adulthood, enriching the overall quality of life, reducing healthcare concerns and costs and potentially producing more elite athletes.

Next, on equalising cash rewards – it seems to be a popular topic today. Hot off the press, Paralympians Yip Pin Xiu and Jeralyn Tan have been rewarded this week for their outstanding achievements at the Paris Games. Pin Xiu received $1.5 million per gold medal and Jeralyn got $300,000 for her bronze medal.

For context, there are two distinct cash award schemes, the MAP for Olympians and the AAA for Paralympians. Both programmes have different origins, different scopes and administration managed by separate NGOs.

These awards are privately-funded as the Government focuses public funds on upstream investments for all athletes and the Government has encouraged private sponsors to support these medallists' rewards. And thanks to sponsors like DBS and Tote Board, AAA was, in recent years, enhanced from $200,000 to $500,000 for a Paralympic gold medal.

So, on this topic of parity of cash awards for both abled and disabled sports champions, I think parity is important, but I also support the Government's approach to the prudent use of public funds for sports recognition. This is because I know, for so many years, how my fellow disability advocates and I have been asking the Government and sponsors and foundations to give us more grants, more funds, for more services for the disabled, especially for the adult years from 21 to, say, 85. In lifelong learning, we need funds in job support for persons with disabilities who can take on paid jobs.

For those who cannot work or cannot take on paid jobs for care services, there is so much needed. Caregiving services as well; in housing; in healthcare; in transport; criminal justice; and, for example, beefing up the Police force who are supporting our possible criminals with special needs; in mental wellness; in Healthier SG for all. These are all services and areas that we need a lot more support and the needs are many. I urge the Government to look into these needs and I know that MSF and MCCY are looking into this and to allocate more resources too.

Therefore, on the topic of equalising or the parity of awards, I do call on the Government and the rest of Singapore to join me also in calling upon and, also Member Assoc Prof Jamus Lim, to call upon the current and potential private sponsors to please also, support us to equalise these cash awards for both para athletes and also able-bodied athletes, so that more resources, including by the Government, can be also spread out to the other very critical and urgent needs.

Together, we can send a powerful and progressive message that Singapore is truly inclusive and we offer equal opportunities to all regardless of background. So, those are my views on parity of awards. I know it is important in today's topic context to fight for parity. But I also want to express that in the larger context, there are also many, many needs and I do want the Government to look at these needs as well and to spend as prudently as possible to ensure that more needs for more for the disabled can be looked into.

The next is on sports science and technology. One area that we can improve on is by increasing investment in sports science and technology to help athletes maximise their performance through improved training methodologies and performance analytics. And also mentorship of athletes. Surely, younger athletes can be also connected with experienced mentors and even former Olympians to provide guidance, provide motivation and practical advice to them.

And finally, a very important area or topic. As I speak to past Olympian athletes, whether able-bodied or Paralympians, many of them have mentioned the area of post-career support for athletes. The transition from a sports career to life after competition can be daunting for many athletes, particularly for those who have devoted their youth to training. For our medallists and sportsmen, securing stable post-sports career should be a priority. So, programmes that focus on educational opportunities, career guidance and even entrepreneurship for retired athletes should be bolstered to ensure that they thrive beyond their sporting competition years, beyond the sports arena.

And we can actually take reference from the very robust pre-retirement development plans that MINDEF is conducting for its officers. I studied it and I hear very good things about it and the sports fraternity can take a leaf from MINDEF on this area as well.

So, various areas in post-career support, in calling for all to ensure that parity for cash awards is realised, for more investments in sports science and technology, for ensuring greater school participation and developing on sports talents. These are the few areas that I would like MCCY to consider further.

And lastly, I just want to, again, congratulate all our remarkable athletes who represented Singapore at the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games. You have made us so proud, not only with your victories but inspired, like what Minister Edwin Tong has said, your passion, your determination and the grit you have shown in every step of the way.

A special congratulations and big thanks, too, to the incredible families, coaches, professionals who form the backbone of support. Your unwavering belief in our athletes made all the difference.

As we look to the future, let us dream even bigger. May the Singapore sports fraternity continue to grow from strength to strength. May you forge new paths of success, not just on the world stage but in every school, every neighbourhood, every community across our nation. May we build on this powerful legacy and create a future where sports is not just a field of competition but a celebration of Singapore's spirit of excellence, inclusivity and unity. Let the world see what a great country we are and what we are further capable of. So, Majulah Singapura, thank you very much and congratulations. [Applause.]

Mr Speaker: Mr Keith Chua.

2.29 pm

Mr Keith Chua (Nominated Member): Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in full support of this Motion. And along with my fellow Members, I would also like to add my congratulations to Team Singapore at the recent Olympics and the recent Paralympics. Your collective performance encourages all of us to pursue excellence in sports as a national agenda.

Speaking as a volunteer in the social service sector for many years, I would like to say a bit more in the encouragement of expanding and extending sports for those amongst us with disabilities and special needs, that is, those who will potentially participate in future Paralympics and similar sporting events.

Firstly, I hope, at a national level and across all sectors, we will begin and continue to deepen and encourage sports at the earliest possible ages. These would begin at our special needs education institutions and schools, and services for persons with disabilities. Our current curriculum may need to be expanded to facilitate, encourage and broaden interest and participation in sports. My colleagues, Mr Ong Hua Han and Ms Denise Phua have already spoken on this.

Secondly, I would encourage parents of children with special needs or early diagnosed disability to consider intentional guidance towards sporting development where these are available. Selection of the type of sports will require appropriate counsel. We already have many helpful lessons from our Paralympians and their families.

Thirdly, we have many established social service providers who are providing support for persons with special needs and disabilities. Many of our social service providers, though, focus on support that helps achieve basic levels of independence, including employment options when reaching adulthood. However, given the organisational support mechanisms in the hands of these organisations and having these in place, enhancing participation in sports for these organisations could be an added focus.

To achieve this may need allocation of more funding and I do urge the appropriate Ministries to consider this as we prepare for the upcoming and future Budgets. In addition, larger funders, such as Tote Board – I know they are already helping in a great way – can help to supplement public funding, as will the private and people philanthropic and business communities.

In a conversation I had with one of our Paralympians, he called for more private sector sponsorship and support. I can certainly relate to this call. Compared to our successful Olympians, where commercial sponsorship is often widely promoted and available, we can do more for our Paralympians. I hope more companies will see this as an avenue to support, thus enabling our current para athletes and future Paralympians to excel both locally and internationally.

Mr Speaker, we can and should do progressively more in the area of sports at the national level and I thank the Minister for his assurance on this and also the plans that have been outlined. As we head towards a more inclusive society, let us also intentionally allocate increased public, private and people resources to strengthen and support our para athletes, current and future Paralympians, making suitable sports options more widely available and accessible.

Congratulations again to our Team Singapore Olympians and Paralympians!

Mr Speaker: Mr Mark Lee.

2.33 pm

Mr Mark Lee (Nominated Member): Mr Speaker, Sir, we gather today in this House with immense pride and admiration to recognise and congratulate our Team Singapore Olympians and Paralympians for their outstanding achievements at the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralymic Games. Our medallists have shown us what it means to embody the spirit of perseverance, passion and determination. Their victories are not just personal triumphs, but also testaments to the values we hold dear as a nation – resilience, hard work and the will to rise above challenges. Their success is not only a reflection of their talent and dedication, but also speaks of an unwavering support system that surrounds them, a system that embraces the individual while fostering a deep sense of collective identity and purpose.

Even as we celebrate their victories today, we must not lose sight of the work that lies ahead. This is why the new Home of Team Singapore and its accompanying improvements at the Kallang Alive precinct is so crucial. It is not just a place. It is a vision, a vision of universal support, a vision of unity and a vision where every Singaporean, whether an aspiring Olympian or a weekend athlete, can find their potential fully realised.

Izaac Quek, Singapore's youngest local-born table tennis player to qualify for the Olympics, provides a glimpse of how Home of Team Singapore is already taking shape. His Olympic quest in table tennis is supported by a personal education pathway at the Singapore Sports School, in close partnership with the Singapore Table Tennis Association. This athlete-centric approach ensures he does not have to choose between academic success and sporting excellence.

Zhou Jingyi, a fellow paddler at Paris 2024, also highlights the critical support system that Home of Team Singapore aims to provide. Jingyi has decided to take her GCE "O" level examinations with support from Singapore Sports School while she recovers from her injuries post-Olympics. It is crucial that Home of Team Singapore formalises and expands such support in close partnership with the respective NSAs.

By integrating educational support with world-class training facilities and programmes for all athletes, we can ensure that young athletes like Izaac and Jingyi can continue to develop while balancing the demands of training, recovery and education at appropriate phases of their lives.

Similarly, Amita Berthier was able to return home to her alma mater at the Singapore Sports School in the final months leading up to the Paris Games, leveraging its boarding and training facilities as well as the tutelage of Oleg Matseichuk, the national team's foil head coach under Fencing Singapore.

These kinds of partnerships allow our athletes to train at the highest level while having access to resources that enable them to grow mentally, physically and emotionally. In the spirit of celebrating sporting excellence in Singapore, it is important to recognise that many of our national athletes do not have full-time sporting careers. They are often modern supermen, superwomen, daytime students and workers and night-time athletes.

Still, they continue to achieve outstanding results, on par with many international teams, many of whom are full-time athletes. One example is our national Dragon Boat team, which consists entirely of part-time athletes and coaches. After work on weekdays, five days a week, they hold three-hour practices at the Kallang. On weekends, they even train more vigorously with double two-hour sessions per day.

Their hard work is evident from the impressive results in the international arena. In the recent 2024 Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Race, our women's team was placed first runner-up and the men's team placing second and third runner-up against competitors with full-time athletes from China, Thailand and Myanmar.

As we look forward to the next major sporting platform, the Asian Games, we must continue to support the plethora of teams that represent our nation. These teams deserve our support, too. The waters at Kallang and our new Home of Team Singapore, together with the various national training centres around Singapore, will be crucial in supporting these teams in their sporting endeavours.

Sir, the Kallang Alive precinct with the Sports Hub and the new Home of Team Singapore is about more than just elite athletes. It is not just about medals. It is inspiring the next generation of Singaporeans to embrace sports as a way of life, not just as spectators but as active participants, starting from our schools. Much of our talent acquisition happens within the schools.

Since the Government took back the Sports Hub, it has offered its comprehensive facilities to host inter-school competitions at the primary and secondary school level, promoting sporting excellence at the highest level and encouraging a select few to further their potential in the international arena. In doing so, we can capture the imagination of our youths so that they are able to compete regularly in our own National Stadium and to hope that, one day, they will represent Singapore on the world stage. Our Olympians will also continue to play an important role in building the next generation of athletes through school visits, mentorship programmes and public engagement.

We hope that these collective efforts will push for the next bound of sporting excellence for Singapore and ensure that they become role models, inspiring children across the island to pick up a racket, a ball or a bow and arrow and to believe that they, too, can reach the top. The Home of Team Singapore will also be well-placed to provide the space for coaches, parents and support staff to be equipped with the tools they need to nurture athletes.

As parents and coaches form the backbone of an athlete's support system, Home of Team Singapore could offer parenting workshops, coaching seminars and wellness resources so that no one in an athlete's life is left unsupported. New sports science and sports medicine facilities will also help on this.

Sir, as the old saying goes, the future of Singapore sports is so bright I have to wear shades, just like when Max Maeder is training. And the Home of Team Singapore is at the very heart of its future. To our athletes, thank you for reminding us that, in the face of adversity, there is always greatness within us. Your victories inspire us all to strive for better, to work harder and to unite as a nation in the pursuit of excellence. Mr Speaker, Sir, I fully support the Motion.

Mr Speaker: Assoc Prof Razwana Begum.

2.41 pm

Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim (Nominated Member): Mr Speaker, I stand today to wholeheartedly support this Motion and to extend my personal congratulations to our Olympic and Paralympic athletes. I would also like to extend a warm welcome to you at Parliament House, a place that serves as a home away from home for all of us fortunate to represent the people of Singapore. As athletes, you have proudly represented our nation on the global stage. I hope you feel a strong sense of belonging here, knowing that your contributions, just like ours, are valued and celebrated in this place.

Your participation in the 2024 Summer Olympics brought immense pride and joy to our little nation. In particular, we celebrate Ms Jeralyn Tan, Mr Maximilian Maeder and Ms Yip Pin Xiu, whose medal-winning performances have earned them a place of honour in Singaporean sports history. All of you have demonstrated remarkable physical, mental and emotional strength and determination throughout your journeys to Olympic and Paralympic success. Your path has been marked by years of rigorous training. Your resilience, commitment and ability to overcome challenges and excel under pressure are a testament to the power of human determination. As role models, you inspire others with your achievements and dedication.

Mr Speaker, the Olympic Games, with their rich history spanning over a century, embody international unity, athletic excellence and the potential of the human spirit. The Games transcend borders, cultures and politics and inspire billions of people across the globe with their message of friendship, solidarity and fair play. In Singapore's diverse and multicultural society, these values of unity, mutual respect and peaceful competition resonate deeply. The Olympics remind us that despite our differences, we can come together as citizens of the world and not citizens defined by abstract borders.

Mr Speaker, Muhammad Ali, the legendary boxer and Olympic gold medallist, famously said: "He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life". Our athletes, through their courage and commitment to take risks, push limits and strive for greatness, are an embodiment of Ali's wisdom.

Mr Speaker, the significance of the Olympic Games extends far beyond medals. Singapore's participation in the Games is a testament to our ongoing commitment to fostering athletic talent, promoting a healthy lifestyle and showcasing our nation's progress. Our athletes have become national heroes, inspiring new generations to embrace sports and strive for greatness. Their success demonstrates the power of sports to transform lives, foster national pride and unite us in celebrating excellence.

The Motion also recognises the family members, coaches and other support staff. Mr Speaker, behind every athlete stands a dedicated team of individuals who have made significant sacrifices. They have spent many hours training, advising and supporting our athletes, often in the background and without recognition. Their belief and support are frequently the bedrock upon which our athletes have built their success. It is, therefore, only right that we shine a light on their contribution and acknowledge the indispensable role they play in our sporting ecosystem.

Mr Speaker, as we congratulate our athletes, let us also reaffirm our commitment to investing in grassroots programmes that encourage children and young people to take up a sport at an early age for fun and not simply to win.

Mr Speaker, not all children who play sport can be elite athletes and not all children who play sport want to be elite athletes. Some just want to keep fit, hang out with their friends or just give it a try because it is enjoyable.

While we absolutely need to have systems in place to identify and support potential or future Olympians, we do not want to inadvertently drive children and young people away from sport because of pressure to always be faster, stronger, better. Sport, no matter the level, should always be fun, not a burden.

The recently announced Kallang Alive Masterplan and associated relocation of the Singapore Sports School is consistent with this approach. As noted by Prime Minister Wong in his maiden National Day Rally speech on 18 August 2024, the Masterplan will, and I quote, "assist to strengthen the sporting culture in Singapore and to support all Singaporeans in realising their sporting dreams."

Prime Minister Wong went on to say, and I quote, "You don't need to be an elite athlete to enjoy the facilities at Kallang. You may be a weekend player or a beginner or someone trying to pick up a new sport. Whatever your level, so long as you have interest in sports, there will be something for you here".

Mr Speaker, we also need to do more to safeguard our athletes. The Singapore Safe Sport Commission continues to do commendable work in this area through policy, training and education, complaints handling and accreditation. However, evidence-based safeguarding needs to be embedded across all sports and at all levels and this is lacking. We need to be able to do this and for this to be accepted as the norm by players and athletes, parents and coaches. Doing so will not only reduce the risk of harm to children and young people playing sport, but importantly, will improve both their enjoyment of sport and their performance.

Mr Speaker, I conclude by congratulating once again our Olympic and Paralympic athletes. You have done us proud, but more importantly, you have done yourself proud.

Mr Speaker, it is not easy to become an Olympian. As one sports commentator noted, only one in 500,000, or 0.000017% of the world's population ever make it to Olympics. So, your achievements are by definition extraordinary. You are the elite in your field and I hope that you will remember Paris 2024 with delight and satisfaction, and more importantly, I hope you had fun.

Mr Speaker, with that, I support the Motion. I also wish all our athletes the very best for whatever comes next on their remarkable journey. [Applause.]

Mr Speaker: Mr Sitoh Yih Pin.

2.48 pm

Mr Sitoh Yih Pin (Potong Pasir): Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Motion. There is an old Chinese saying that goes “文无第一 , 武无第二”. Loosely translated and interpreted, it means that there is no absolute number one in the arts and literary world, while being first is all that matters in the pugilistic or martial arts world.

Today, not many engage in martial arts fights and competitions anymore. The second part of this phrase is often used to apply to the world of sports and to sportsmen and sportswomen.

It is nice to win, but there is more to sports than being first or winning medals. Sports is also about forging our spirits in the crucible of competition and yes, defeat as well.

Let me quote what champion bodybuilder, movie superstar and California Governor, Mr Arnold Schwarzenegger said, “Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength”.

Let us give pause to what the “Governator” said here, which is almost counter-intuitive, “Strength does not come from winning”.

Everyone loves a winner and everyone loves to see the athletes achieve victory and the celebration that ensues. Our celebration often centres around victories and talent.

But as Mr Schwarzeneggar said the athlete does not get stronger in victory. They do not even get stronger because they have talent. He said that one gets stronger when one struggles and go through hardships and not surrender.

Sir, I think these struggles and the indomitable spirit of not surrendering are also worth celebrating, and it is the reason why we are here today as well. On one hand, we are here to celebrate our Olympians and Paralympians’ successes and victories in Paris, but on the other hand, we are also here to give praise to them for overcoming hardships and struggles and not surrendering, and in the process develop strength in body, soul and spirit.

This is especially true for our Paralympians, who despite facing challenges in life, choose to take the bull by its horns and face life with positive energy and become a Paralympian in the process. They have decided triumphantly that they will overcome all odds with verve and spirit. Which is why I suppose the motto of the Paralympics is “spirit in motion”.

Jeralyn Tan embodies this. Her achievement at the Paralympics showcased the “spirit” of her journey of growing up with cerebral palsy, picking up boccia as a co-curricular activity, competing at the national, regional and eventually on the international stage, at the Paralympics. Very importantly, her family who have been supporting her throughout this journey, played a vital role in her quest to overcome all odds and succeed.

Mr Speaker, there is another Chinese saying by the Confucian philosopher Mencius, who lived around 2,300 years ago. The saying loosely translated into English is as follows: "When Heaven is about to confer a great responsibility on a person, it will first make the person endure hardship in spirit, exhaust his muscles and bones and experience hunger. This is so that this person can cultivate a resilient spirit and enhance his capabilities."

It is a more poetic and detailed way of expressing what the "Governator" has said. It can also be used to describe what every successful athlete knows – the road to sporting success is paved with pain, deprivation, suffering and yes, even defeat. Because no one wins all the time.

What is important is the will to get up and try again and again, to compete again and again, and eventually achieve success from the ashes of defeat. It is the spirit of resilience and not giving in to defeatism, of not surrendering, but to rise from defeat, that is worthy of our celebration and honour.

And it is also this spirit of resilience that Singapore has as well, that has made Singapore what it is today. Sports is a microcosm of life and sports holds many lessons for us, for every generation of Singaporeans.

This is why it is important that we inculcate the qualities that are to be found in great sportsmen and sportswomen into the fabric of our society; that of fair play, resilience, guts and teamwork.

Aside from learning from our defeats and rising up again, there are also lessons to be learnt from winning. In this context, we can learn from Yip Pin Xiu. Pin Xiu is a veritable Singapore sporting legend at the age of 32.

She has won five Paralympic gold medals over three Games and numerous other medals at other international competitions. Despite having a hereditary neurological disorder called Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease or CMT disease, Pin Xiu has managed to win again and again over the years. I understand CMT disease leads to progressive muscle and sensory loss. I think Pin Xiu has probably lost muscle mass and strength over the editions of Paralympics that she has won gold medals in. Yet, she continues to defy the odds with the strength of her will and her discipline and dedication to training.

As Singaporeans, we can all learn from Pin Xiu. As a country, Singapore has serious limitations of space and lack of natural resources. No matter what we do, these limitations remain with us. But that does not mean our fates need to be determined by these limitations. With the same discipline and determination as Pin Xiu, Singapore can continue to come up tops in many ways in these uncertain times. We can continue to meet challenges that come our way with positivity and overcome them by the strength of our collective will.

Sir, next, I would like to talk about how we can learn from someone who is not as experienced as Pin Xiu but just starting out in his Olympic journey – Max Maeder. At this juncture, I like to declare that I was a director of Yeo Hiap Seng Limited when the company started to sponsor Max in his sports activities. I played a role in that sponsorship.

At 17 years of age, Max cannot even legally order a can of beer at the neighbourhood coffee shop in Singapore when he won his bronze medal. But everyone who has met him has described him as being level-headed and mature beyond his years. With the energy and fearlessness of youth, he is already charting new paths and peaks in his sporting career. I am very confident that he will achieve more sporting glory for himself and Singapore in the years to come.

Like Max Maeder, Singapore is a young country. Being a young country, we should not fear going into uncharted waters at high speeds, as long as we keep our heads level and our sight on what is important and what is the final goal.

Yes, there will be choppy waves along the way and sometimes we can even lose a bit of speed and direction, but as long as we have the wherewithal to stay the course and if necessary, to make adjustments along the way, we will get to where we need to be, where we want to be. Just like Max!

Sir, at this juncture, I would like to respond to what the hon Member Assoc Prof Jamus Lim said. He spoke about the differences and maybe the disparity in the incentive schemes. Mr Speaker, Sir, I take it that Assoc Prof Jamus Lim's intentions are good. I respect what he said and today is a happy occasion. I do not hope to get into an intense and heated debate.

But let me respond by way of a tennis match. In the early part of this year, I think in early February or late January, there was the Australian Open tennis final. Jannik Sinner, the Italian tennis player, won the Australian Open. He was the first Italian to have won an Australian Open and currently the first Italian to be ranked number one in the world. During that game, Jannik Sinner was playing Daniel McDevitt. He was lost the first two sets, 3-6, 3-6. I watched that game. In the third set, at one point, it looked like he was gone, finished. He was going to lose the third set and it was game over. But then his coach shouted from the stands, "Weather the storm! Weather the storm!"

That was when Jannik Sinner's game changed. He came back. He was a different person and then he went on to win the next three sets, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3. And therefore, became the first Italian to win the Australian Open.

Why do I relate this story? Because I have learned from that tennis game that in sports, you always have two opponents. One is the opponent across the court. In sports, you compete. That is inevitable. That is unavoidable. The second opponent is yourself.

You have to overcome what is inside yourself. My message, Mr Speaker, Sir, to Assoc Prof Jamus Lim, is that as much as your intentions may be good, please do not create that storm. Because we are one Team Singapore. I am sure Minister Edwin Tong will respond later about the incentives, but I think there is no need to try to create any division amongst any one of us, amongst the strong and resilient team Singapore. Sir, please allow me to speak in Mandarin.

(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The topic of sports is a significant one, a topic for the entire nation. We must approach it carefully and thoughtfully, always prioritising the interests of the athletes and the people. Within the sports family, there is no 'I' or 'you', only 'we', because we are a team. The performance of our athletes this time has brought great joy, sunshine and new hopes to the people. Therefore, I want to express my gratitude for our athletes' dedication, because you have brought new hope and insiprations.

For your toil, your spirit, and your contributions, I extend my deepest gratitude to all of you.

I believe that your spirit is not just for the present, nor for 10 years, nor even for 100 years; it is eternal, and will last for generations to come.

(In English): Sir, in conclusion, I would like to share a song. I was just driving the other day and this song came on the radio and I thought maybe I will use it today. For those of us old enough, I think you will know this song. It is a song by Simon and Garfunkel. It was very popular in the early 1970s. It is a Spanish song titled, "El Condo Pasa". For those of us old enough, you will know this song.

But the lyrics of the song are very interesting. It goes something like, "I would rather be a sparrow than a snail. I would rather be a hammer than a nail. I would rather be a forest than a street" and I was thinking of today's Motion because, I am certain, hand on heart, for every athlete here, for every sports official here, for every family here, they can put hand on heart that they would rather be competing in the red and white colours of Team Singapore. [Applause.]

Mr Speaker: For a moment, I thought you were going to sing, Mr Sitoh. [Laughter.] Assoc Prof Jamus Lim, go ahead.

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim: Just a quick response, Sir. Far from it being my intention to — firstly, I do struggle to grasp the logic in linking my call for equal rewards between our athletes with creating a storm, but I would only add that if, indeed, calling for equality between our para athletes and athletes constitutes stirring up a storm, then I am happy to be stirring up the storm. [Applause.]

Mr Speaker: Minister Edwin Tong.

3.03 pm

Mr Edwin Tong Chun Fai: Thank you, Sir, and I would like to thank all our colleagues, Members in this House, for being united in your support for this Motion and also support for sports in Singapore as we look at the next bound and steps that we can take collectively together to get us to the next bound.

I thank the various Members for their impassioned speeches. Mr Yip Hong Wing, Ms Poh Li San, for your thoughtful sporting suggestions. Assoc Prof Razwana, for reminding us that sports should always be fun. Ms Jean See, Ms Hazel Pua, for your support. Assoc Prof Jamus Lim and Mr Sitoh Yih Pin, for your impassioned interventions. And of course, Ms Denise Phua, who not just was passionate in her speech, but she is so passionate that she came in Team Singapore colours as well today.

These are all great suggestions which my team and I will take back and we will consider thoughtfully and take on board in the course of looking at the proposals and policies that we will have to advance sports. I thought I would take up a response on two points which most of the Members have spoken about.

And the first is on our disability sports landscape. Ms Denise Phua and Mr Keith Chua, in particular, noted that it is important to encourage children in our SPED schools to take up sports from a young age. We agree. Mr Ong Hua Han also suggested adopting a more structured approach to encouraging children with disabilities in mainstream schools to do sports. We agree.

In addition, I think Mr Ong Hua Han also mentioned that we have to raise awareness and understanding. And I can see why, because our children do not have, from a young age, a bias. And I think what is needed for them is to gain greater understanding and empathy, and also being able to be equipped with how to deal with a situation when they see a person with disability, how do you interact, how do you make the first move, how do you break the ice and how do you come together and socialise and form a community. I think these are important steps that we will take and we believe that the platform of sports provides us a great way in which we can do this.

Mr Keith Chua also noted that we can do more for persons with disabilities in the community. To this end, along with helping children, MOE has introduced a new SPED Physical Education teaching and learning syllabus earlier this month. It focuses on preparing SPED students for good health and life outcomes through lifelong sports participation. This early intervention can ensure that these children can access sports from a young age, cultivate a good habit and cultivate a culture for sustained and lifelong sports participation.

Indeed, over the years, we have made good progress, introducing a range of disability sport programmes and initiatives. These have reached out to close to 20,000 persons with disabilities to date. They include the Learn to Play programme, the annual Play Inclusive campaign that I spoke about, the Inclusive Sport Festival, which has itself also been integrated into the mainstream Get Active Singapore. So, it is no longer just about normal ability sports, but also special ability sports within our mainstream programmes like Get Active Singapore, which is a very popular programme. We also have, as you heard me say in my speech earlier, launched the Parasport Academy. This was done in March 2022. And so far, there have been more than 400 participants across 10 sports today. And as I said earlier, as we look forward towards the launch of the DSMP, we will make further announcements on what else we are doing to enhance the disability sport landscape.

The second point I would like to respond to would be the incentive awards. Let me explain this with some context so that Members can understand.

First of all, as Ms Usha Chandradas pointed out, this is put up by non-government entities. It is decided by them. They decide on the funding, the appropriate level, the structures and the terms on which this is done. Between the Olympic and the Paralympic structure, there are differences. But these differences do not mean one is necessarily better than the other.

Let me explain. In the Olympics, for example, the first and only gold that is rewarded under the incentive programme is the first gold for $1 million. Under the Paralympic programme, it is $500,000 for each gold, but it goes up to three golds. So, it is different, not necessarily comparable in the same way.

These are also decided by the private sector on a range of different considerations. They have to think in terms of whether this is sustainable, is this an incentive programme that drives the right behaviour and how long term can this be? Bearing in mind, for example, that if you compare the Paralympics with the Olympics, just in swimming alone, there are 141 Paralympic swimming events for which medals are awarded, as opposed to 37 in the Olympics. So, when the private sector, as well as Tote Board, looks at this, these are amongst the considerations that they have in mind.

Assoc Prof Jamus Lim also spoke about equalising, and I think several other Members as well. With reference to some data, I think there was an article cited by Ms Usha Chandradas. Assoc Prof Jamus Lim spoke about the experience in Canada. Let us not also forget that even as we look at trying to find parity, let us not forget where we start and where we are today in Singapore. Like Ms Chandradas says, Singapore is amongst the highest, if not the highest, in terms of the incentive scheme amounts in absolute terms. Assoc Prof Lim spoke about Canada, but I think Assoc Prof Lim would know that Canada's incentive for a Paralympic gold is $20,000. We are at $500,000. I am not sure whether Canada looks at the second or third golds as we do. Other countries, like in Japan, mentioned by Ms Chandradas, their gold is at $20,000; Korea is at $50,000; France is at $100,000; and Australia is at $15,000.

So, let us not also miss the wood for the trees. We have been pushing the amounts up over the years. I can understand and appreciate entirely why Members have said let us find parity. Because there is, in fact, no difference between the way in which our para athletes train, put effort, make sacrifices as well as our Olympic athletes. But let us not also lose sight of the amounts in absolute terms and how much we support our athletes.

I also want to explain why we have taken the position that we have left the incentive schemes to the private sector and to the Tote Board to handle. These awards, based on each major game, are set up and, as Members know, the games are cyclical. At each game, like the Olympics, there might be a gold medallist or there might not be a gold medallist. But the amounts that are committed will have to be put aside and have to be provided for, and you cannot use them, and because you cannot use them, you cannot deploy the funds elsewhere.

In contrast, what the Government does is we look at a year-on-year, long-term master plan, like the DSMP, as an example. We cater for infrastructure upgrades, development. We look at facilities. We look at building up the academies, like ActiveSG Academies, the Para Sport Academy, the coaches, the specialist physiotherapists that we employ for para athletes, sports science, the programmes that I spoke about earlier in my speech, the various bursaries that we put together, like in SportCares bursaries, as I spoke about in my opening speech as well, to support the lower-income; and, of course, the spex programme, amongst others. These are all spendings that are committed and that, every year, are spent to improve the infrastructure and landscape for both para and disability sports as well as able-bodied sports. This is an investment that the Government is committed to. It is not if you win an award, not whether; but it is a commitment that we make.

If you put aside sums and think about whether or not I need to provide for "x" number of gold medals each cycle, these are sums that will not be able to be deployed. So, we look at it differently. We decide that we want to invest these amounts, spend them, make a commitment and ensure that we have efficiency for the spend that we make. It is an assured amount every year, year-on-year, on a long-term masterplan.

And more importantly, we also take the approach that when you have an incentive programme, it is good, and we applaud the various supporters and corporates who come forward to help us in this effort. It is very good. But it is also rewarding people who are more or less at the end of the journey winning a gold medal. It does not directly go towards helping those in development, which is what we want to do with a broader spend, so that we can reach and target a broader base mass appeal and developing a pipeline so that more athletes, para as well as able-bodied athletes, can reach the apex of their sport and reach their aspiration. That is the thinking that we have in the Government on why we leave the private sector and Tote Board to deal with the incentives while we make commitments here and now and in the long-term on facilities that overall lift the base of sports entirely. So, I hope that clarifies the position on the incentive schemes.

Finally, as I conclude, Mr Speaker, Sir, the programmes that we have spoken about, that I have outlined in my earlier speech, they show us that there is a very clear commitment towards a comprehensive plan that is bold, ambitious and, in some cases, also unprecedented, in the context of Home of Team Singapore. These plans, we believe, will help us lift the entire base altogether. We will find a new baseline and in order to do this, we want to permanently shift the baseline so that we are no longer looking at vagaries or depending on each year, whether there are certain sports that may be in major games or otherwise, performances may then vary. We want to permanently shift the baseline upwards.

My colleagues and I at MCCY are convinced that the best years of sports lie ahead of us. I thank everyone for supporting this Motion today, for believing in our athletes and, in particular, I thank all our athletes for allowing us to believe, through you, that dreams can come true.

Mr Ong Hua Han, in his speech earlier, spoke about how we have not even heard about kitefoiling until some months ago, before the Olympics. Most of you know that I look after a constituency at Marine Parade. One day, when I was there a couple of months ago, after the Olympics, I saw a young boy. He tied a string to a plastic bag and he was running up and down the beach with the plastic bag. And I asked him what he was doing and he said, "I am kitefoiling." [Laughter.]

So, it has that power to engender, to inspire and to break new ground. And I think that is the power of sports. It is something that the medium of sports is uniquely positioned to give us and we thank our athletes and all of the supporters, the many stakeholders in this room, in this Chamber today – family, friends, officials, coaches – everyone in that village or town that I spoke about. We thank all of you very much for being here, for being part of this journey and we look forward to working with you even more, even further, as we take Singapore sports further forward. Thank you very much, Sir. [Applause.]

Mr Speaker: Any clarifications for the Minister? Ms Hazel Poa.

3.16 pm

Ms Hazel Poa: Earlier, the Minister mentioned that the percentage of Singaporeans engaged in sports at least once a week has improved significantly. I believe it was from over 50% to over 70%. I would like to ask the Minister whether our sports facilities have been increased proportionately. For example, I have heard from many friends and relatives that it is practically impossible to book a badminton court under ActiveSG.

Mr Edwin Tong Chun Fai: To Ms Poa's point, yes, we are working towards refurbishing old ones to build more courts, build more facilities and also having newer ones. I mentioned Toa Payoh, there is one in Punggol, Sengkang and various places. So, we are doing that. But obviously, you can almost never cater enough because each time you look at a badminton court – four persons on the court. So, I can understand the demand.

I, as the Minister looking after sports, amongst the number one emails I get is precisely in the vein of what Ms Poa is asking for. Can we have more tennis courts? Can we have more facilities for badminton, for floorball, for tchoukball, and so on? In a sense, I look at it as a good thing – that we have been quite successful in encouraging Singaporeans to be active in sport and want to take part in sports.

We will do our best to catch up in terms of facilities, but we are defined by a finite set of resources on this. So, I am sure Ms Poa understands. Nonetheless, we will work with facilities; we will work with schools to ensure that on the weekends at least, dual-use facilities are made available as much as possible to the public and in this way satisfy the demand that is building up. And that is a positive sign.

Mr Speaker: Assoc Prof Jamus Lim.

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim: Thank you, Speaker. Just a very quick clarification from me. I appreciate that the amounts we offer are indeed comparatively higher relative to the other nations that Minister Tong mentioned. I will only add a few points.

First, it is also true that we are both richer and win less medals overall, unfortunately, than these nations. And so, in absolute terms, this should make the burden just somewhat more affordable.

To be clear, I am not innocent of the very real budgetary constraints that we face in raising and implications of raising the amounts. I will only ask Minister Tong if he would at least agree with the principle of equalising awards. If he does, then it comes down to, I think, the Government working in tandem with the Tote Board as well as other private donors to try to realise that aspiration.

Mr Edwin Tong Chun Fai: Sir, I would agree with the principle that we equalise our support for all athletes regardless of whether they are para athletes or able-bodied athletes and regardless of whether they take part in major games or otherwise across the entire spectrum. That has been our approach. That is why our ActiveSG academies now have the Para Sports Academy as well, and to the extent possible, we have NSAs where the para sports take part in the sport side by side with the able-bodied athletes.

So, these are steps that we are taking to bridge the gap if there is one, but I would not necessarily say that our focus is only on making sure that the incentives are equalised because there is a danger in that which is the point I was making to you earlier, Prof Lim, that in trying to strive towards equality, you have missed the woods for the trees – which is where we are already today. Would you rather have equality or would you rather want substantive support that is being given to para athletes? I think the answer is pretty clear.

Mr Speaker: Ms Usha Chandradas.

Ms Usha Chandradas: I thank the Minister for his response and his clarifications. I just have one further clarification. Would the Minister be able to comment on my suggestion on whether MCCY can advocate for a tax exemption for the awards that are granted to our athletes and para athletes?

Mr Edwin Tong Chun Fai: I will have to check that with the relevant Ministry which is behind me. I will have a word and see whether that is possible, but I also want to make the point. You made the point earlier that we should consider the tax exemption because there are a variety of different sharing proportions for the incentive.

I think the sharing incentive proportion is designed to reflect the fact that, precisely as I have said today, we have a village behind every athlete and the support structures are something that we value and the split formula that Ms Chandradas spoke about reflects that value – that everyone plays a part in the success of the athlete. It is not just a single source of success every time a medal is won.

3.21 pm

Mr Speaker: As the Speaker, I cannot join the debate, but I just want to say to our Olympians and Paralympians, your family and support team, I salute you, this House salutes you and Singapore salutes you. [Applause.]

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

"That this House congratulates our Team Singapore Olympians and Paralympians, in particular our medallists Ms Jeralyn Tan, Mr Maximilian Maeder and Ms Yip Pin Xiu, for their achievements at the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games."

Mr Speaker: Order. I think we deserve a longer break now. So, I propose to take a break now and I will suspend the Sitting and will take Chair at 3.50 pm. Order. Order.

Sitting accordingly suspended

at 3.22 pm until 3.50 pm.

Sitting resumed at 3.50 pm.

[Deputy Speaker (Mr Christopher de Souza) in the Chair]