SPEECH BY MR TEO SER LUCK, PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, YOUTH & SPORTS AT THE NSA PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT SIGNING CEREMONY / SINGAPORE SPORTS SCHOOL SEA GAMES ATHLETES SEND-OFF CEREMONYLAUNCH OF THE ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (ADR) FRAMEWORK FOR SPORTS ON WEDMON, 21 7 NOVJAN, 7PM 2.45PM AT THE SINGAPORE SPORTS SCHOOL AUDITORIUM SPORTS COUNCIL
Principal of the Singapore Sports School Mr Moo Soon Chong,
CEO of the Singapore Sports Council Mr Oon Jin Teik,
Secretary General of the Singapore National Olympic Council, Mr Chris Chan
Deputy Chairman of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre, Professor Lawrence Boo
President of the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators, Mr Johnny Tan
Executive Director of the Singapore Mediation Centre, Mr Loong Seng Onn
Representatives of the National Sports Associations,
Ladies and gentlemen and other distinguished guests,
Good afternoon to one and all.
Boys and girls,
1 In the four short years that the Sports School has been in operation, it has produced stellar results at the national, regional and international levels. Among its list of impeccable achievements, the School boasts three World Champions, numerous Gold Medalists at the Asian, Commonwealth, and SEA Games, World and Asian Youth Champions, and so on. In recent years, there has been a concerted effort to push for sports development in Singapore. Today, there is greater awareness among Singaporeans on the benefits of sports, and more Singaporeans are participating and excelling in sports. In fact, our record away performance of 43 Gold Medals at the recent 24th SEA Games in Korat reflects our progress in sports.
2 As Singapore’s sporting landscape continues to grow and evolve in various ways – such as bidding to host the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in 2010, the construction of the new Sports Hub, intensifying our campaign for Olympic glory – we would need to enhance our legal framework to complement our sporting developments. This includes having sufficient appeal channels for sports-related disputes to be resolved, as is done in the more developed sporting nations like the United States, UK, and Australia.
3 Today, we are here to witness the launch and signing of the MOU for Singapore’s first Framework for Alternative Dispute Resolution for Sports, also know as ‘ADR for Sports’ in short. This initiative is spearheaded by the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) and developed in collaboration with the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC), the Singapore Mediation Centre (SMC), the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) and the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators (SIArb).
4 Adapted from the various arbitration and mediation processes in the international sporting arena such as the International Court of Arbitration for Sports, the ADR Sports aims to resolve a broad spectrum of sports-related disputes such as athlete selection, liability issues, commercial rights matters and so on, in a timely and professional manner. The framework will leverage on the existing professional practices and expertise of the Singapore Mediation Centre, the Singapore International Arbitration Centre and the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators.
SSS-NSA partnership agreement
25 The recent dispute between Gino Ng and the Triathlon Association of Singapore (TAS) over selection to the SEA Games team was an unfortunate incident. However, I am pleased to note that the dispute was eventually successfully resolved through the mediation process. This incident exemplifies the need for a structured process of mediation and arbitration to ensure that disputes within the sporting fraternity can be resolved in the most amicable manner possible.
Tonight, we are gathered here to witness the Sports School’s success of a different kind. I am pleased to note that the Sports School and nine National Sports Associations (NSAs) have come together to formalise their relationships in multi-year partnership agreements. While the School has always been working closely with the respective NSAs over the past few years, this agreement marks an enhancement of the commitment to collaborate and groom our youth into the champions of tomorrow.
3 These agreements will form the cornerstone of our sports excellence plans to develop a seamless and integrated pathway for elite athletes from the Sports School to the National Youth Team and eventually, the National Team. Henceforth, the Sports School will work even closer with these NSAs to identify, recruit, train, and nurture our young sportsmen and sportswomen, so that they will have the best possible opportunities to fulfill their dreams and maximise their sporting potential.
Support for More Sports
4 Not only is the Sports School stepping up its efforts to partner the NSAs, it is also supporting additional sports so as to meet more youth’s sporting aspirations.
5 I am pleased to announce that come next year, Golf will become the School’s ninth Academy. This means that the Sports School will take greater ownership of the youth’s sports and academic development, in partnership with the Singapore Golf Association (SGA). There will be enhanced training, resources and competition opportunities for the youth golfers, so as to develop the youth to their fullest potential.
6 Other than enhancing its support to Golf, I am also pleased to announce that the Sports School will be working with the Singapore Shooting Association (SSA) and Fencing Singapore (FS) on a pilot project to recruit and support a small number of youth shooters and fencers. Youth in these two sports will benefit from the school’s ‘hothouse’ environment peers with similar sporting aspirations. This is all part of the Sports School’s plans to support more budding young talents in the Olympic sports so as to bring glory to the nation for the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in 2010.
SEA Games send-off
7 Our focus on youth development in the Sports School is starting to reap benefits. Today, Sports School athletes form a significant pool of local sports talents from which the National Teams are selected. There are 50 Sports School students who now represent Singapore at the national team level.
8 I am delighted to note that 17 Sports School students have been selected to represent Singapore at the SEA Games next month. These students will represent Singapore inSailing, Track and Field, Swimming, Table Tennis, Golf and Bowling.While most of them like 13-year-old Darren Choy will be representing Singapore for the first time, for others like Jazreel Tan, this will be their second outing. Congratulations to all of you for making it to the National Teams and I wish you all the best.
Closing
96 At this juncture, I would like to congratulate the 129 Primary Six pupils who have been chosen to join the Sports School. In the next few years, you will have experience a rich and fulfilling life like no other. You will also have the chance to represent Singapore at the inaugural 2010 Youth Olympic Games and be a part of our history in the making if we win the bid to host the Games. I urge you to train hard and give it your best shot.
10 In closing, I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude appreciation to to all the parties who have supported and contributed to the formation of ADR Sports. As Singapore develops its sporting culture and infrastructure, the establishment of the ADR Sports will strengthen our position as a regional hub for sports development and best practices.
7 the parents, coaches and teachers of these students. Your hardwork in guiding and leading these students will play a large part in their success when they come into Sports School and I’m sure even when they pursue their sporting ambitions later on in life.
11 In closing, my heartfelt appreciation goes to the staff, parents, and sponsors of the Sports School. Without your support, the School would not have come this far. These are exciting times for Singapore sports with the Youth Olympic Games, Project 0812, Sports Hub, and many other developments on the horizon. The Sports School will be at the forefront of these developments, and I am sure that all of you can look forward to contributing in more ways than one.
12 With that, I wish you all a very good evening. Thank you.
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