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Opening Remarks by Mr Ng Ser Miang,
President of the 117th IOC Session Singapore Organising Committee
At the Appreciation Reception held at The Oriental Hotel, Oriental Ballroom
17 August 2005, 7.30pm
Mr President
Ministers,
Friends,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
A very good evening to all of you.
1. A little more than a month ago, we gathered here with dignitaries and world sports leaders to celebrate the successful conclusion of the 117th IOC Session. Today, I’m very happy to be back for an even more meaningful purpose – to extend our appreciation and thanks to every person and organisation who have helped make it happen.
2. When it all started in 2002, we knew the Session would be an exciting one, but never did we anticipate the intensity and competition of the 2012 bids, which helped to raise the profile of Singapore tremendously. We were indeed blessed. We had always believed in the Session from the start and as it became more obvious over the months approaching July on what the Session could do for Singapore, we were overwhelmed with the support that came our way. Here I must thank Minister for Defence and President of the Singapore National Olympic Council – Mr Teo Chee Hean, and the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports – Dr Vivian Balakrishnan for their unqualified support and their confidence and trust from day one.
3. In the end, IOC President Jacques Rogge praised Singapore for our “perfect organization and great contribution to this very important Session”. As Daniel Truchi, CEO of SG Private Banking (Asia Pacific) said in The Business Times, “The only ONE winner was undoubtedly Singapore. The (highly-regarded) event… has “enhanced the image of Singapore. It will benefit all industries.” I cannot agree more.
4. But beyond extensive media reports and positive exposure for Singapore as a city capable of hosting global sports conventions, I was extremely heartened to see an excitement in our community towards Sports, the intensity of which I’ve not experienced before. Of course the international sports celebrities played a part, but well, as long as we got people talking about the Session, housewives interested about London, Paris and Madrid, students excited about the Olympics, and Singaporeans proud of what we have done, to a certain extent, I think we’ve achieved our goals beyond the tangibles.
5. The Session has not only helped us open doors to the hearts of many Singaporeans, it has also helped us open many doors for Singapore. We have moved up several notches in our pursuit to be a major Sports events and conventions venue. IOC members and leaders from International Federations have seen for themselves not just how efficient we are, how meticulous our organisation can be, but also how passionate we are towards Sports, and how serious we can be when we’re in business. The Session has raised their confidence towards our brand, which will certainly tip the scale if they are considering hosting events or having a presence in this part of the world.
6. Personally, this has been a humbling experience. Even after more than a month now, the team is still receiving congratulations from the world over. I have returned from Helsinki from the World Athletic Championship and the success of the Session was the talk of the town. From afar, my IOC colleagues have also said that they have been touched by the warmth and hospitality of our people. We are grateful to business leaders, grassroots organisations and Singaporeans for their compliments, as much as we are overwhelmed by words of praise and encouragement from Ministers, PM and President Nathan himself.
7. At the end of the Session, the IOC team was surprised to see over a hundred staff and volunteers huddle on stage for a final group photograph – they said they have never seen such camaraderie at past Sessions. They were also full of praises for our volunteers who were enthusiastic, committed, professional, industrious and quick-thinking on their feet. In fact, according to Lianhe Zaobao, some journalists from China thought that it would be ideal if we would fly all of you to China to help in Beijing2008. I thought that was the most definitive compliment that we can ever receive.
Thanks
8. So, to the 350 of you who come from all walks of life to volunteer with us for the week or two, you have played well the role of ‘ambassadors’ for Singapore and left our guests with an excellent impression of our country and our people. I hope this inspiring experience will spur you to continue to volunteer actively, especially in sports-related events;
9. To more than 300 staff who managed a full-time job at the SSC or SNOC, with an IOC Session on your plates, I thank you for your tireless efforts, enthusiasm and dedication. In an interview I was once asked which event company we had appointed to manage the Session, I said we have none, but we have 300 passionate souls working diligently behind-the-scenes! Thank you Jin Teik and Chris Chan for your great support and for putting up with me;
10. To 300 performers who had practiced over and over for months to put together that perfect show on 5 July for the World to see, you did a brilliant job and did us proud (and for the record, all of you sang well). Thank you Glen, Annie and Nickson for the great show;
11. Our task would also not have been possible without the strong support of the The Inter-Government Committee chaired by MCYS Permanent Secretary Niam Chiang Meng. In particular, I would like to highlight the support of Mindef, MFA, MHA, MICA, MOH, CAAS, ICA, IDA, NHB and STB. In particular, our Police Force won high praise from a number of international media for their strict but common sense approach;
12. The choice of the Raffles City Convention Centre, Raffles at the Plaza and Swissotel the Stamford was the subject of considerable discussions. It turned out to be the best decision that we have made. Outstanding services and excellent facilities, even our most discerning guests were highly satisfied, what more can we ask?
13. Sponsors make or break an event of such scale and complexity. In this case, we had wonderful, and I must emphasis, generous partners.
14. My thanks go to:
- Singapore Airlines – who impressed our VIPs in the air even before they arrived in Singapore;
- Daimler Chrysler – who literally drove the event to new heights, and in IOC-plated cars no less;
- Fuji Xerox and Samsung – who supported us with technology that we could not live without;
- Mizuno – thanks to you our staff and volunteers were dressed in their smartest to receive the World;
- And Singtel
– who was an important reason behind the thousands of stories on the Session that got printed around the world.
15. Of course, the creators of those stories should not be forgotten. I wish to extend my thanks to our friends in the Media – both local and international. You have been most kind and encouraging. The media coverage on the Session is unprecedented for any sporting event held in Singapore in recent memory. The dedicated airtime and column spaces leading up to and during the Session in various media channels is testimony of your unwavering support. A big “thank you” to you.
16. The extensive coverage you gave to the Session created buzz and excitement – both for sports enthusiasts and the average Singaporean. It has raised the profile of Sports, and heightened everyone’s awareness of Sports as an integral and vital component of our national image and lifestyle. The conclusion of the IOC session is not the end but the beginning of more exciting things to come. I am sure MCYS, SNOC and the Sports Council, will have more to share with you in the coming months on Singapore’s burgeoning Sports scene.
Conclusion
17. One staff said to me it was his good fortune to have had the opportunity to partake in this rare experience. On the contrary, I would say to him, and to all our sponsors, partners, volunteers, performers and staff that the good fortune was ours to have you as a partner, without which we would not have made history.
18. I know that it is impossible to mention every organisation and individual who has contributed to the Session, so I want to say “thank you all” once again, and wish you an enjoyable evening.
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