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Ministry of Culture, Community & Youth
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Recognising the diverse interests of youths

Sectors

Youth

24 June 2016

Speech by Ms Grace Fu, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, at the launch of Campus Game Fest 2016

Dr Ang Kiam Wee, Principal, ITE College Central
Mr Nicholas Khoo, Chairman, Singapore's Cybersports & Online Gaming Association (SCOGA)
Distinguished guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

  1. A very good afternoon to all of you. I'm happy to join you at the launch of Campus Game Fest 2016, an Internet and gaming event for youth, by youth. Today also marks the renewal of a three-year partnership between SCOGA and ITE. This bodes well for the development of eSports in Singapore, and means there will be more opportunities for all of you to compete and showcase your skills.

eSports inculcates positive values in our youths

  1. I'm a mother of three young men, so I am well aware that eSports, or competitive gaming, resonates with many youths and enables you to connect with one another. If you play as a team, you will also learn to cooperate and develop strategies with your fellow team members to overcome opponents and win matches. So if you practise healthy gaming habits, such as setting limits on time spent online, eSports can help you develop positive values such as discipline, teamwork, and sportsmanship.

Bonding through shared experiences and interests

  1. When the Campus Game Fest made its debut in 2013, it was a platform for gamers to hone their skills and gain competitive exposure. Now it has also become an opportunity for youths from diverse backgrounds to bond through a common interest in online gaming. By taking part in the Game Fest, you can share your passion and drive for eSports with the rest of the community.

  2. The gaming community in Singapore consists of many youths like you, who are excited about growing the eSports scene here. For example, Pokémon video gaming community The Mirage Island is hosting the Pokémon Video Game National Championships, where winners get to represent Singapore at the World Championships in San Francisco later this year. And to encourage female gamers to enter the world of competitive gaming, all-female eSports team Girlaxy is organising 'Eve of Legends', a women-only 'League of Legends' tournament that will pit them against another all-female eSports team, Asterisk.

Helping youths fulfil their aspirations

  1. At the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, we recognise that Singaporean youths have many different interests and talents. Through the National Youth Council (NYC), the People's Association Youth Movement (PAYM), and other partners, we will continue to support you in areas close to your hearts, and help you fulfil your aspirations, including in eSports. For example, the NYC recently supported the Singapore qualifiers for the ASEAN Games for eSports, which saw more than 20 Singaporean representatives competing at the Grand Finals in Kuala Lumpur.

Using our talents and skills to help others

  1. Besides pursuing your personal aspirations, I'm heartened to know that many of you responded to a PC Charity Drive that was launched as part of the Campus Game Fest this year to give back to the community. More than 500 of you have already volunteered your time to obtain recycled computer parts. These parts have been assembled into computers, and will be given to those who may not have resources to own PCs.

  2. Your willingness and commitment to help the more vulnerable members of our community shows us how we can all play a part in building a caring nation. Each of us can use our talents and skills to help our fellow Singaporeans and make Singapore a better and brighter home for all. Today's PC Charity Drive is a great example of how you can use your technology-related skills and know-how to give back to the community. So to all of you involved in participating in the charity drive, thank you all for your hard work and congratulations on a job well done!

Conclusion

  1. Finally, I would like to commend ITE, SCOGA and PAYM in Ang Mo Kio GRC and Sengkang West SMC for your effort in organising the Campus Game Fest. Through your hard work, gamers in Singapore are able to celebrate their passion for eSports and give back to the community.

  2. To those who are taking part in the tournaments, I wish you all the best and have fun.

  3. Thank you all and have an enjoyable time at Campus Game Fest 2016.

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