Bringing out the best in people through physique sports

Speech by Mr Baey Yam Keng, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth & Transport, at the Fitness Movement Singapore Nationals 2019

Mr Kevin Chiak, Founder and Director of Fitness Movement
Ms Sabrina Ang, Co-Founder and Director of Fitness Movement
Ladies and Gentlemen

1. Good evening, I am very happy to join all of you here. For the physique sports participants, today is the culmination of months, even years, of preparation. This is your stage, and I wish you all the best!
   
   

   Bringing out the best in us and our youth through physique sports

2. This year, we have a large field of more than 100 contenders – the highest number since this event started in 2013. This shows that physique sports has grown in popularity over the years. Competition platforms have also moved away from emphasising muscularity towards strengthening one’s self-esteem, as well as raising awareness of health and fitness. As you continue to build up your bodies, I would like to encourage all of you to inspire others to exercise regularly and lead a healthy lifestyle.
3. Sport has the power to bring people together. An individual’s success represents the support of a whole community motivating one another to reach higher goals. One youth participant, Romano David, said it best, “We helped each other, shared our equipment, tips and laughter... winning is not everything”. Indeed, success is more meaningful when we bring others along with us.
4. This sense of camaraderie and community is also central to our efforts to nurture the aspirations of our youth, and bring out their best. To this end, *SCAPE has partnered with Fitness Movement League to connect youth with partners in the health and fitness sector, as well as develop fitness and enrichment programmes with *SCAPE’s tenants and institutes of higher learning.
   
   

   Inspiring the community through health and fitness

5. I would like to commend the participants of the inaugural Transform-Nation category.¹ Just 12 weeks ago, you set your hearts and minds on leading a fit and healthy lifestyle. Although it was not easy to change your habits at times, you have persevered, stayed the course, and finally made it! As you return to your workplaces, schools and families, I hope that others will be inspired by your stories of grit and determination, and look up to you as role models for healthy living.
6. Sport also has the power to be a force for good. Fitness Movement works with community and government agencies to provide fitness training and mentoring to youth, and support them with career opportunities. Take Donaven Quek for example. Through Fitness Movement, Donaven works with youth drug offenders at the Community Rehabilitation Centre.² As a former juvenile inmate, Donaven was able to connect and engage with these youths, and used fitness training to help inculcate values such as discipline and perseverance in them. He will receive the Youth Fitness Social Service Award today, as a recognition of his professionalism and dedication. Keep up the good work, Donaven!
7. Finally, I would like to thank those who have made this event possible, including the organisers, judging panel and participants. I wish you every success in taking the physique sports movement in Singapore to greater heights. I wish everyone a great evening ahead!