THE HEARTBEAT OF
SPORTING SINGAPORE
* * *
IMPACTING LIVES. BONDING THE COMMUNITY.
* * *
UNVEILING THE WINNERS OF THE
POSB EVERYDAY CHAMPIONS FOR SPORTS AWARD 2010
Singapore, 31 May 2010 – Sports as a means to
help the marginalised; to spur delinquent boys to channel their energies
positively; to make friends and to bridge ethnic and cultural divides. The true
value of sports in impacting lives and in bonding the community is apparent from
the outstanding and heart-warming achievements notched by the winners of this
year’s POSB Everyday Champions for Sports Award.
The POSB Everyday Champions for Sports Award 2010 is organised by
the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) and title sponsored by POSB. It is the
nation’s top accolade for honouring individuals, coaches and organisations who
foster greater participation in sports in the community.
There are a total of 26 recipients for the Award this year – 9
individuals, 9 coaches and 8 organisations. As everyday champions for sports,
they are the heartbeat of A Sporting Singapore, motivating and inspiring others
to play sports and grow through sports.
Commenting on the winners, Mr Oon Jin Teik, Chief Executive
Officer of SSC, said: “As exemplary sports advocates, these everyday champions
encourage Singaporeans to embrace sports as a way of life. They energise our
sports scene and help to build up a Sporting Singapore where we now have more
people playing and enjoying sports than ever before. The Award is a significant
tribute to the individuals, coaches and organisations who are selfless and
relentless in championing a sporting culture in Singapore.”
Mr Koh Kar Siong, Managing Director & Head of POSB said: “The POSB
Everyday Champions for Sports Award resonates with POSB’s commitment to be an
active partner in our community. This award recognises the unsung heroes around
us who strive to make a difference in the lives of others by championing sports
and an active lifestyle. Being neighbours first, bankers second, POSB is pleased
to have this opportunity to celebrate the efforts of these everyday men and
women who inspire and actively engage their family, friends and neighbours.”
All 26 POSB Everyday Champions for Sports will receive their
awards from Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean at an award ceremony to be held
at the Grand Ballroom, Marriott Hotel, on Tuesday, 8 June 2010.
Among this year’s award winners is an operations manager of a
school who started a handball team for the marginalised and delinquent students,
labelled as truants, rioters and street fighters. He is 47-year-old Gabriel Rao,
and he has since turned the lives of more than 30 members of his team around. By
instilling in them a sense of confidence, discipline, self-esteem and can-do
spirit through sports, many of these students have seen their grades improve,
and they have also won titles on the court.
Another winner is 23-year-old Ruth Ng who juggles the
responsibilities of being the SSC’s first scholar with utmost dedication to her
chosen sport of fencing. This national fencer almost single-handedly organised
and coordinated an international children’s fencing competition, and even
stepped in as a referee to give some respite for the overworked referees. Ruth
also conducts talks at schools for both students and their parents. She is
passionate about winning parental endorsement of the sport and has successfully
introduced many girls to fencing, with some of them moving on to don national
colours.
The sport of Tchoukball has been fast gaining popularity, and a
prime mover is Mohamed Moiz Malik, also a winner in the individuals category.
Starting the Bukit Batok Tchoukball Club, he recruited 60 members in the first
month alone. Mohamed, 29, even started a Tchoukball CCA Club at the school
he teaches for students who fail to make the cut on other CCA teams. He coached
the team of CCA rejects to a bronze medal in the Inter Primary Tchoukball
Competition. He also volunteers overseas by coaching Tchoukball for the deaf in
Chiang Mai and Lampang, Thailand.
Among the winners in the coaches category is David Wong Han Keong,
who is bowling coach, friend and mentor to his charges at primary, secondary and
tertiary institutions. The 29-year-old organises camps aimed at building
teamwork and morale and motivates the players individually by giving advice and
pep talks. Believing that every player should have a bowling ball of their own,
he started a bowling ball recycling programme, where he re-surfaces and
re-conditions used balls for the players at his own time and expense.
The eight winning organisations range from players from the
healthcare sector to educational institutions and government agencies. Many of
them stand out for their commitment to making sports an integral part of their
corporate culture and promoting an active lifestyle.
One such institution is Compassvale Primary, which not only
targets pupils and teachers for a sporting journey, but also parents. From
carnival workouts to hour-long walks on the beach, the school tailors different
types of sporting activities all-year round for the pupils and their teachers
and parents. Other innovative activities include Recess Play Programmes and
carnivals with a Youth Olympic Games theme. The school even works around the
curriculum by organising June Holidays Sports Clinics and Post-PSLE Sports
Competitions, so that sports can co-exist with studies.
About the Singapore Sports Council
Formed in 1973, the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) is tasked with developing a
holistic sports culture for the nation. The SSC creates opportunities for people
to excel in sports; opportunities for people to be engaged in sports as,
coaches, officials, volunteers or fans; and opportunities for people to do
business in sports as sponsors and investors. The SSC has changed the way
Singaporeans view and participate in sports. Through sports, we now have an
enhanced national identity thanks to our sports participation programmes;
greater national pride as a result of high performance results at international
and regional games; and more diversified economic stability through our vibrant
sports industry initiatives.
To find out more, visit our websites www.ssc.gov.sg and
www.SingaporeSports.sg
Join SSC on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/singaporesports
Join Singaporesports.sg on Facebook at:
www.facebook.com/#!/SingaporeSports?ref=ts
For a range of photographs, search for “Singapore Sports Council”
on www.flickr.com
About ‘Let’s Play’
Let’s Play is a nation-wide movement by the Singapore Sports Council to
encourage everyone in Singapore to embrace sports as a lifestyle choice. Sports,
while also fun, offers health and social benefits. Let’s Play seeks to connect,
energise and enrich everyone from all walks of life through the many aspects of
sports, be it playing, watching, cheering or volunteering. For more information
on Let’s Play, please visit www.singaporesports.sg.
About POSB
A part of the DBS Group, POSB is the people’s bank in Singapore with 4 million
customers. Having served generations of Singaporeans for the past 132 years, it
prides itself in being “neighbours first, bankers second”.
With a good understanding of Singaporeans through the years, POSB
offers products and services that are relevant to the savings, borrowing,
investment and insurance needs of all Singaporeans. With 52 branches
conveniently located islandwide, and more than 1,000 ATMs and Cash Acceptance
Machines across the island, POSB’s distribution network is the largest in
Singapore.
POSB acknowledges the passion, commitment and can-do spirit in
each of its staff. For more information, please visit www.posb.com.sg