13th SFCCA Youth Sports Festival Closing Ceremony

新加坡宗乡会馆联合总会会长蔡其生先生，

宗乡总会理事，

各位来宾，
女士们、先生们、 还有年轻人：

大家下午好！

1. 很高兴受邀出席第13届新加坡宗乡青年体育节的闭幕典礼。这已经是我第二次参加这项盛会，只能说年轻真好！年轻人精力充沛、活力满满，你们的热忱跟这个体育精神是振奋人心的。热忱跟体育精神是没有年龄限制的, 所以希望大家都一直怀着这份热忱，一直展现这个体育精神。

2. 今年是新加坡宗乡总会成立40周年，在此我也要祝贺宗乡总会40周年快乐。宗乡总会多年来致力于促进华社与新加坡多元文化社会之间的凝聚力，今天的体育节正体现了这种精神，把来自不同种族和不同籍贯的年轻人聚集一心。宗乡总会、和参与这次活动的宗乡会馆，以及热心公益的青年组织，如心件工程等，在筹办这项活动上都付出了很多的努力，值得我们嘉奖。

3. 这些年来，文社青部与宗乡总会一直密切合作。而今天与全国青年理事会签署的合作备忘录，凸显了宗乡总会与社区伙伴组织的密切合作关系，也将进一步扩大青年在社区中成长、贡献和领导的机会。这次的合作，不仅保留我们的文化遗产，更是在启发下一代，让他们积极打造新加坡的未来。让我们继续把这种精神发扬光大，加深跨文化之间的了解，建立更紧密的联系，共同为新加坡创造更光明的前程。

4. 接下来，我将以英语说几句话。

5. Good evening, everyone! Thank you for having me today. I am very happy to see the energy, passion, and sportsmanship of our youths. Beyond the competitions, I believe what is truly significant are the new friendships forged, the cultural bridges built, and the lasting memories created.

6. This year also marks SFCCA’s 40th anniversary. Congratulations to SFCCA for its enduring commitment in fostering strong bonds both within the Chinese community, and with Singapore’s wider multicultural society.

7. Over the years, the Government has been working closely with SFCCA to strengthen the Singapore Chinese identity and to engage the community, organising events that promote mutual understanding and integration.

   1. We partner with SFCCA to support the efforts of the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre in encouraging our youths to engage with their cultural heritage, with initiatives such as the bilingual Culturepaedia online repository, the SingapoREN permanent gallery, as well as its new “Culture on Wheels” programme to bring our distinct Singapore Chinese culture into primary school classrooms as part of experiential learning. SFCCA also plays an important role to help newer Chinese immigrants integrate into Singapore society. The federation has assisted in orientation programmes that promote deeper integration and mutual understanding.

   2. The SFCCA plays an important role as the leading umbrella body for Singapore Chinese clans, helping to nurture close community ties and promote cohesion both within and beyond the Chinese community.

8. Now, we are furthering this partnership through an MOU with the National Youth Council to expand opportunities for youths to grow, contribute, and lead in the community. This MOU provides SFCCA and NYC a platform to drive youth development efforts for the longer term, developing our community of youth leaders within the Chinese community. MCCY looks forward to partnering SFCCA, and also with more like-minded stakeholders, to collectively support our youths and build a ‘We First’ society.

9. Let us continue to carry this spirit forward – building stronger bonds, deepening cross-cultural understanding, and creating a brighter future for Singapore, together.

10. Thank you.