STATEMENT BY MR DARREL CHUA, DELEGATE TO THE 73rd UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY FROM THE PERMANENT MISSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, ON AGENDA ITEM 12 ON SPORT FOR DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE, PLENARY, 3 DECEMBER 2018

Mr President,

1                 At the outset, my delegation would like to thank the Secretary-General for his comprehensive report on “Strengthening the global framework for leveraging sport for development and peace”. We would also like to express our appreciation to the Missions of Monaco and Tunisia for their hard work on the draft resolution “Sport as an enabler for sustainable development”. 

2                 Sport can be a force for positive change in society. It instils values such as discipline, perseverance, teamwork and sportsmanship. It also inspires people to push boundaries and strive for greater heights, beyond what people think they are normally able to achieve. These are important skills for an individual’s personal and professional life in the future. In addition, exercise and sport contribute to improvements in health and in the overall quality of life of individuals, towards the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals.  

3                 Singapore celebrates sport in everyday life. We launched the GetActive! initiative in 2016, a week-long sports festival that encourages Singaporeans to participate in sport and to have an active and healthy lifestyle.

4                 Sport not only brings about health benefits; it also has a positive impact on society. As noted in the Secretary-General’s report, sport can help build human and social capital and also promote social integration, inclusion and cohesion. It is a powerful vehicle that brings individuals and communities together. It can foster social development by changing perceptions. Regardless of faith, culture, background or gender, sport enhances mutual understanding through teamwork and respect. The esprit de corps forged through sport also fosters a sense of pride and solidarity among people. Given the personal and development benefits which sport offers, emphasis should be placed on increasing access and participation in sport. It is for these reasons that Singapore has integrated sport into our national education curriculum under the Sports Education Programme. These are important values that we believe should be imbued in our people, especially our youth.  

5                 Sport also contributes to lowering barriers in our societies in other ways.  It can engender greater acceptance and awareness of persons with disabilities. In 2016, Singapore launched the Disability Sports Master Plan to ensure that sport in Singapore remains an inclusive activity. The Master Plan provides persons with disabilities with more opportunities to participate in sports, and also develops and grows the pool of educators with expertise in disability sports. We are also working to increase awareness and support for our athletes with disabilities among Singaporeans through the annual Inclusive Sports Festival, which features adaptive sports try-outs and workshops that everyone can experience.

6                 The efforts to develop sports in Singapore has paid off. Notably, at the 18^th Asian Para Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, in October 2018, Singapore fielded 44 para-athletes across 10 sports. We achieved our best ever haul. But sport is more than just about the results. For our para-athletes, it gave them self-belief and confidence – that despite their physical disabilities, they were able to participate and compete. They were also an inspiration to all Singaporeans, who saw how they achieved sporting excellence despite their physical disabilities. They are proof that with hard work, grit and determination, one can overcome all odds.

Mr President,

7                 The benefits of sport also transcend national boundaries. Sport helps to promote closer people-to-people ties between Member States. There are countless inspirational stories of how regional and international friendships were forged in the fiery battles of sporting competitions. We hope that these ties serve as stepping stones towards peace and greater dialogue and cooperation.

8                 The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has recognised the role of sport in the realisation of development and peace and in the promotion of tolerance, respect and the empowerment of women and young people, as well as its many contributions to health, education and our goals of social inclusion. Let us continue to uphold the spirit of sport and aim to build a sustainable, inclusive and prosperous future for our peoples.

9               Thank you.

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