STATEMENT BY MS CELINE TEO, DELEGATE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE TO THE 79TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON AGENDA ITEM 12 – SPORT FOR DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE: UNITED BY OUR COMMON GOALS – ENSURING THE IMPACT OF SPORT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE, PLENARY, 12 NOVEMBER 2024

Mr President,
 
1 My delegation thanks Monaco and Qatar for coordinating the draft resolution titled, “Sport as an enabler of sustainable development”, which we are pleased to support. We also congratulate France on the successful hosting of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris earlier this year, and commend all athletes who inspired us with their passion, hard work, and uplifting performances at the Games. 

Mr President,

2 Singapore firmly believes in the value of sport in contributing to sustainable development and peace. Sport is an important tool for social inclusion and integration, and has the power to inspire people, create opportunities, and promote tolerance. Sport also plays an essential role in promoting health, wellbeing, and lifelong learning opportunities for all, which align with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and 4 (Quality Education). It is this belief that guided Singapore’s “Vision 2030” roadmap, which focuses on how sport can contribute to a more resilient, happier, and healthier future for Singaporeans, and helps them “live better through sports”. 

3 Singapore is committed to providing a safe and inclusive space for all to engage in sport. To encourage more Singaporeans from all walks of life to participate in sports and stay healthy, we have built dedicated Sport-in-Precinct facilities throughout our neighbourhoods. These include sheltered futsal and basketball courts, and rubberised walking tracks for seniors, which are free to use and conveniently located. Singapore also invests in inclusive programmes. For example, the seventh edition of Play Inclusive, Singapore’s largest inclusive sport competition, was held in August this year with the addition of new events, such as soundball and wheelchair rugby. 

4 We also strongly believe in the role of sports in crime prevention, as part of our comprehensive, collaborative, and coordinated approach to addressing youth delinquency. One example is the Delta League, a sport-based early intervention programme that keeps youth meaningfully occupied through football and e-sports, particularly during school holiday periods. The programme, which comprises football clinics interspersed with crime prevention talks, serves to inculcate a sense of discipline, resilience, and responsibility in our youth. Since its inception in 2011, 28,000 youths have participated in Delta League. Through sports and games, this programme has helped to steer younger Singaporeans away from crime while giving them the opportunity to hone their skills on the pitch.

5 Singapore also recognises the unifying power of sport. At the national level, sport strengthens our shared identity and fosters national pride, both as participants and citizens cheering on our teams. We support our sporting talents through a comprehensive high performance sport ecosystem, designed to provide holistic and personalised support to each high-performance athlete, maximising his or her potential. We are also enhancing our efforts to make sports a more viable career, such as through undergraduate scholarships for athletes, and funding to certain athletes to support their housing, medical and retirement needs. 

6 Sport brings people closer together in our region of Southeast Asia as well, building bridges across different countries. Singapore has been an active supporter of regional cooperation in sport. This year, we sent a 268-strong contingent to compete in the 21st ASEAN University Games in Indonesia from June to July, alongside more than 1,000 student athletes from ASEAN Member States. Separately, the 15th ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Sports, held last month, reaffirmed the importance of sport in community building and achieving the SDGs, and highlighted the region’s efforts in promoting sports integrity, inclusivity, and capacity-building through partnerships with international organisations. 

Mr President,

7 Sport is a powerful, universal language that transcends borders, fostering social cohesion across divides and strengthening human bonds, both nationally and across countries. Recognising this, Singapore affirms our commitment to increase the accessibility and inclusivity of sport to all, and support our athletes to thrive and excel as they pursue their sporting dreams. This aligns with the goals of the Olympic movement to build a peaceful and better world, with the values of excellence, respect, and friendship at its core. In this vein, let us continue to work together to uphold the spirit of sport with the aim of building a more inclusive, prosperous and sustainable future for all. 

8 I thank you.

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