Counting down to the 8th ASEAN Para Games in Singapore

Distinguished guests
Para athletes
Volunteers and Friends, and all the great performers
Ladies and gentlemen

1. A very good evening to all of you. I am indeed very happy to join so many of you for this wonderful event called TREErific Christmas Sports Carnival to mark the one year countdown to the 8th ASEAN Para Games.

2. About two months ago, I had the privilege of watching our para athletes compete at the 2nd Asian Para Games in Incheon, South Korea, where our athletes brought home a total of six medals, which is a very commendable and remarkable achievement given that more than half of the Team Singapore contingent were debutants.

3. I still remember, over the games, very vaguely the smile on our swimmer Theresa Goh when she touched home second in the 50m freestyle final, and I also recall very vaguely the excitement of our bowlers Ismail, Anuar and Robert when they clinched a bronze medal in bowling, and of course the immense sense of pride when I saw Jovin and Qian Yi's distinctive orange boat sailing away ahead of the pack and won the Gold medal for Singapore.

4. Medallists or not, our para athletes have shown us that nothing is impossible so long as you have the right attitude, belief and determination, even in the face of stiff competition.

5. So, I know they are eagerly anticipating the ASEAN Para Games next year, which will be held in Singapore for the first time. Just like the SEA Games, the ASEAN Para Games will be a part of the SG50 celebrations next year. So all of us can be part of this SG50 celebration and be involved in the ASEAN Para Games.

6. I'm happy to note that students from Ngee Ann Poly and Republic Poly are already working with us on the marketing campaign for the Games. We also have engineering students from the Singapore University of Technology and Design helping us to see what else we can do to improve the support of our para athletes.

7. Our volunteers will play a crucial role in delivering a good experience for our guests at the Para Games and SEA Games. And I'm sure it will be a very special experience for our volunteers, both as ambassadors of Singapore and also as champions for disability sport.

8. Through sport, we want to build a more inclusive society where empathy is strong in us; where we value every fellow Singaporean among us. This is the legacy that we hope the 8th ASEAN Para Games next year will leave behind for all Singaporeans.

9. And our para athletes have shown us how sports can uplift them and also the nation. Every one of them has a story to tell, and each story is an inspiration for us all.

10. With only one year to go, our athletes have been training very hard to prepare for a good showing at the Games. I have spoken with many of our para athletes as well as their coaches and their family members, about their training and their preparations. I know it is very tough, but to all our athletes, I just want to let you know that all of us – Sport Singapore, MCCY and the government – we are all behind you. As for myself, I will certainly do all I can to help you in your quest to do your best, and also to fly the Singapore flag high. I look forward to cheering on our para athletes with all of you here as One Team Singapore!

11. So on this note, thank you once again to all our volunteers, friends, supporters and also our para-athletes for being here this afternoon to join us in this very meaningful event to launch the one year countdown to the 8th ASEAN Para Games next year.