Climbing for All: Driving Inclusion through Sports

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen

• Thank you all for being here.

  • Thank you, Jun Xiang, for your invitation, and

  • Mr Koichiro Kobayashi, four-time World Paraclimbing Champion, for making the journey from Japan to support this wonderful event once again.

Sport is for Everyone

• From the work that I do in the ministries, I am indeed very heartened to see ground-up initiatives like Merdeka Monkey.

  • It demonstrates how the community can step forward and make a difference to people’s lives.

  • Back for the second time, this inclusive climbing initiative creates opportunities for climbers of all abilities to share meaningful experiences on the wall, as well as when you are mingling with each other outside of climbing.

  • Last year, 21 visually impaired climbers scaled these walls alongside trained sighted guides, with Mr Kobayashi providing an inspirational demonstration.

  • It is really inspiring to see them climb with blindfolds on—it’s not easy at all.

  • And this year, we have even more participants doing so. Once again, that’s wonderful.

• What is also encouraging is how the Merdeka Monkey makes its impact in a sustained way beyond the event.

  • Since last year, Outpost Climbing has been hosting monthly climbing sessions, held every last Friday of the month,

  • Ensuring that persons with disabilities have regular opportunities to participate in the sport throughout the year, with 5 to 8 climbers taking part every single month.

• This sustained commitment is made possible by dedicated volunteers like Mr Jason Koh. He is a retiree who joined the inaugural Merdeka Monkey event last year. Thank you for joining us.

  • Since the beginning of this year, he has supported nearly every monthly session, belaying and sight guiding the visually impaired climbers.

  • Mr Koh goes the extra mile for the climbers, ranging from fetching them from the MRT station when required, to helping them choose the correct sizing for their climbing shoes.

  • His dedication shows us that building an inclusive society starts with sincere commitment—it's about showing up consistently, with the same warmth and reliability that makes others feel welcome.

• Over the past two days, this event has toured the Singapore Institute of Technology and Republic Polytechnic,

  • Bringing inclusive sports closer to the youth, students, and the public.

• As we gather here this evening on the final day, we are reminded of how sport can unite communities and break down barriers.

  • I think you will agree that there are sufficient pressures pulling us all apart, and sometimes we need safe spaces like this—using sports to bring us closer to one another.

  • Not only that, you are bringing together families, friends and the wider community to a common belief—that sport is for everyone.

  • Tonight's finale—where sighted climbers attempt blindfolded climbs—perfectly demonstrates how we can foster empathy and understanding between able-bodied and visually impaired athletes.

Importance of Community Support

• Driving inclusion through sports is a community effort.

• And this supports the vision of the refreshed Disability Sports Master Plan that was launched last year – to build a more Master Plan that was launched last year – to build a more drive greater inclusion in society through sport.

• We also launched the Enabling Sports Fund in August this year to empower and support community-led disability sports programmes.

  • The Fund, supported by the President’s Challenge, covers essential costs such as sports equipment, venue rental, transportation, and coaching fees, making it easier for more persons with disabilities to take part in sports.

• I was also briefed earlier that even persons with Parkinson’s are learning to climb. I think the team has done a fantastic job in making this as inclusive as possible.

Acknowledgements and Closing

• This event would not have been possible without the dedicated partners and sponsors that have contributed to making it possible.

  • I want to specifically shout out to the volunteers for coming down and helping out. It’s not easy to do this with a small group, and you need a large volunteer pool to make it happen.

  • I also want to thank Outpost Climbing for leading this event, alongside partners, the Singapore Disability Sports Council, the Singapore Association for the Visually Handicapped, Guide Dogs Singapore, iC2 Prephouse, and Japan's Monkey Magic.

  • Your commitment reminds us that sport is not only about Your commitment reminds us that sport is not only about experiences.

• To the climbers taking part tonight, you are an inspiration to all of us.

  • Whether sighted or visually impaired, your courage, your trust in one another, and your spirit of adventure show us what it means to be inclusive in sport.

  • I just want to reiterate this point—it is difficult to climb alone. The fact that you are doing this as part of a team, with your belayer supporting you, means you don’t need to worry.

  • Someone is telling you where to position yourself, where to place your hands, and where to place your legs. This is how we operate as one united society, regardless of our abilities. We need to sit together and help one another through this journey.

• Let us continue supporting initiatives like Merdeka Monkey, as we work together to realise our shared vision of a more inclusive society.

• To all the climbers tonight, once again, thank you and all the best. I hope you have an enjoyable evening ahead. Thank you very much.