STATEMENT BY MR LIM MUN PONG, DELEGATE TO THE 71ST SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON AGENDA ITEM 11, SPORT FOR DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE: TOWARDS SPORTS ENABLING OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE, PLENARY, 6 DECEMBER 2016

          Before I begin my statement, my delegation would like to extend our deepest sympathies to our Brazilian colleagues, families, supporters and all involved with the Chapecoense football club. Please accept our condolences.

Mr President,

2        Singapore looks forward to the adoption of the draft resolution entitled "Sport as a means to promote education, health, development and peace". We welcome the ideals represented in the resolution and we would like to thank Monaco and Tunisia for facilitating the draft resolution.  

3        Sport is a potent force for positive change in society. It brings people together and inspires the human spirit. It transcends differences in cultures, nationalities and socio-economic backgrounds, and it contributes significantly to peace and sustainable development. The Olympic Truce, first established in the ninth century, has demonstrated time and again how sport can bridge divided communities, support reconciliation and foster peace. More recently, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognises the growing contribution of sport to the realisation of development and peace in its promotion of tolerance and respect and the empowerment of women and young people, individuals and communities as well as to health, education and social inclusion objectives.

Mr President,

4        In Singapore, we hope to engender greater inclusiveness, acceptance and understanding of persons with disabilities through sport.  We have launched a Disability Sports Master Plan last year to ensure a more inclusive sporting Singapore, where everyone, regardless of ability, can take part and even excel in sport.  The Master Plan will harness the potential of sport by making it easier for those with disabilities to lead an active lifestyle.  It seeks to improve access and opportunities for persons with disabilities in sports participation, develop and grow the pool of sports professionals and educators with expertise in disability sports, and increase public awareness and support for our athletes. This is a concrete step Singapore is taking towards building a more inclusive society.  The Master plan is already yielding some results.

5        At the recent Rio Paralympic Games, Singapore was represented by 13 athletes across six sports, our largest ever contingent. Our athletes also achieved our best ever result of two Gold and one Bronze medals.  Swimmer Yip Pin Xiu won her 2nd and 3rd Paralympic Gold medals in Rio, breaking two World Records in the process.  Fellow Swimmer Theresa Goh won her first ever Paralympic medal after four Paralympic Games. Like Joseph Schooling, who won Singapore’s first ever Olympic Gold medal at the Rio Olympic Games, their stories of perseverance and striving for excellence have made them sporting heroes among many Singaporeans, and these extraordinary individuals will inspire a new generation of budding athletes to fulfil their aspirations on a major sporting stage.

6        As part of our contribution to promoting a culture of sport in the region, Singapore hosted the 8th ASEAN Para Games last December.  This was the first time that Singapore hosted the Games, which saw about 1,400 athletes from 11 countries compete in 336 events in 15 sports. The ASEAN Para Games celebrated the triumph of the human spirit over all odds, and exemplify the Paralympic values of Determination, Inspiration, Courage and Equality. This was also reflected in the theme of the Games to ‘Celebrate the Extraordinary’ – to celebrate the tremendous courage and spirit of the para athletes who have overcome great challenges, not just in leading active lives, but excelling in their respective sports.

Mr President,

7          As we continue to uphold the spirit of the Olympic Truce and implement the 2030 Agenda, Singapore firmly believes that sport is an enduring source of inspiration for us to aim higher and do better in our efforts to build a more inclusive, sustainable and prosperous future for our people. 

I thank you Mr President.

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