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New York UN

STATEMENT BY MR GAVIN ANG, DELEGATE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE TO THE 74TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON AGENDA ITEM 11, SPORT FOR DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE: BUILDING A PEACEFUL AND BETTER WORLD THROUGH SPORT AND THE OLYMPIC IDEAL, PLENARY, 9 DECEMBER 2019

9 December 2019

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Mr President


1         My delegation would like to express our appreciation to Japan for their work on the draft resolution titled “Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal”. Singapore is pleased to co-sponsor this resolution, and we wish Japan every success hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020.


2         Sport is a phenomenon that brings both tangible and unseen benefits to societies. Sport has the unique ability to bring diverse people and communities together. We celebrate our sporting heroes as a nation. We take part in sporting activities with family, friends, colleagues, as well as strangers, deepening our bonds in the process. Through sport, we teach our children values, such as showing care to others in society. Sport is also an important enabler of sustainable development, and is recognised for its contribution to development and peace in its promotion of tolerance and respect, and the empowerment of individuals and communities.


3         Sport is an important part of Singapore’s nation building and national identity. In 2012, we launched Vision 2030, Singapore’s national sports blueprint, which empowers Singaporeans to Live Better Through Sport. Vision 2030 envisages sport as a driving force for positive change by strengthening individuals, communities and the nation through a lifetime of sporting opportunities. Today, we are witnessing the positive impact of this. There has been an increase in the overall physical activity levels across different age segments, as well as the percentage of Singaporeans who view sport as an activity that promotes social cohesion.


4         In Singapore, sport plays a key role in bringing Singaporeans of different social and educational backgrounds, ethnicities and religions together. Under Vision 2030, the Sports Facilities Master Plan guides our development of community nodes and innovative spaces to serve sporting needs at the national, regional, town and neighbourhood levels, so that the majority of Singaporeans have access to public sports and recreational facilities within walking distance from their homes. We also established ActiveSG as the national movement for sport and physical activity, integrating and activating spaces, programmes and partnerships to create sporting opportunities for all. There are now more than 1.85 million ActiveSG members, and more than 10,000 ActiveSG programmes for children, adults, seniors and persons with disabilities, which create opportunities for them to exercise and play together.


5         We strongly believe in Sport Without Boundaries, where sport should be inclusive, affordable, and easily accessible, regardless of age, ability, gender or social status. The SportCares initiative was launched in 2012 as a force for social good to engage youths-at-risk and mitigate youth delinquency. Programmes such as the Saturday Night Lights, provides a platform for youth-at-risk to play and experience formal football training while learning life skills and values. This initiative has since grown to include programmes for seniors and persons with disabilities and special needs.


6         Our national sport volunteer movement, Team Nila, also creates opportunities to bring different segments of the community together to give back to society through a common passion for sport. Team Nila volunteers have contributed to the success of many sporting events hosted by Singapore, such as the 28th Southeast Asian Games.


7         At the regional and international levels, sport transcends national boundaries and plays an important role in bringing people together, building bridges and understanding between societies. As we speak, more than 5,000 athletes are competing across 56 sports in the 30th Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines, in the spirit of friendly competition that reflects and reaffirms the close ties of friendship, community and family among the peoples and countries of our region.


Mr President


8         Singapore renews our call to harness and recognise the value of sport in our aspirations to build a more inclusive, sustainable and prosperous future for our peoples.


9         I thank you, Mr President.


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