SINGAPORE: President Tharman Shanmugaratnam officiated the launch of Sport in Singapore: Visions for Change, the final book in historian Dr. Nick Apli
SINGAPORE: President Tharman Shanmugaratnam officiated the launch of Sport in Singapore: Visions for Change, the final book in historian Dr. Nick Aplin’s trilogy on Singapore’s sporting evolution, on Saturday, Nov. 25. In his address, President Tharman underscored two enduring lessons from Singapore’s early sports heroes: their grit and resilience, and the rich potential of multiracialism in sports.
The event marked Sport Singapore’s 50th anniversary and also unveiled a heritage exhibition, curated by Sport Singapore’s Teresa Teo, that highlights the nation’s sporting legacy. Former champions such as P.C. Suppiah and James Wong guided attendees through the exhibition, which showcased over 320 magazine covers, bringing Singapore’s sports history vividly to life.
President Tharman reflected on the achievements of past athletes like Chee Swee Lee and C. Kunalan, who overcame limited resources to gain international acclaim, a testament to the resilience he calls the “sheer grit” of Singapore’s sporting pioneers. He encouraged Singaporeans to rekindle that same resilience today to reach new levels of excellence, adding, “With today’s far superior infrastructure and talent support, I believe we can achieve much higher levels in the years ahead.”
On multiracialism in sports, President Tharman noted that Singapore’s sports scene once fostered a diverse representation, particularly in football. “Today, we’re sometimes still too ethnically defined in certain sports,” he noted, urging a proactive effort to cultivate diversity in athletics. This, he explained, is about more than talent; it’s about strengthening national unity and deepening the Singapore spirit through sport.
“We’re building on the achievements of our past and aiming for even greater heights,” President Tharman concluded, “but we must remember to rekindle old-fashioned grit and determination and foster multiracialism in our sports – both vital to a stronger Singapore through sport.”
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