MOE Speech - SPEECH BY MR THARMAN SHANMUGARATNAM, ACTING MINISTER FOR EDUCATION, AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 1ST ASEAN SCHOOLS NETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

SPEECH BY MR THARMAN SHANMUGARATNAM, ACTING MINISTER FOR EDUCATION, AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 1ST ASEAN SCHOOLS NETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP ON TUESDAY 5 AUGUST 2003 AT 2.30 PM AT THE TOA PAYOH SPORTS HALL

Dignitaries and representatives from the various Foreign Embassies and High Commissions

Delegates and representatives from member countries of the ASEAN Schools Sports Council

It is my great pleasure to be here today for the Opening Ceremony of the 1st ASEAN Schools Netball Championship 2003.

2 I am very happy to note that the ASEAN Schools Sports Council has decided to initiate this all-girls' event. We are naturally pleased that Singapore has been given the privilege to host the inaugural championship this year. The game of netball is not new in the region. In Singapore, it has been a popular game since the sixties. Although it has been in the Commonwealth Games calendar for sometime, it was only lately that the game was included in the SEA Games. Our young schoolgirls can now look forward to representing their respective countries in this ASEAN Schools championship.

3 I have been told that in the recent years, the standard of netball in ASEAN countries has shown considerable improvement. We should be proud of this. In addition to Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore, the other netball playing ASEAN countries include Myanmar. With the presence of the delegates from Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam as observers at this championship, I am sure that these countries would be ready to field a team in the next ASEAN Schools Netball Championship. I would warmly encourage them to do so.

4 The ASEAN Schools Sports Council deserves special praise for its efforts in helping to raise the overall standard of school sports competitions in the region. Together with each country's School Sports Council, it has provided the platform for students to represent their country and get valuable exposure to international tournaments. It is only through such rigorous competition that the best of our young talents can hone their skills and display their prowess.

5 The valuable experience you gain from this competition will hopefully spur you on to take up the challenge of gaining a place in your own national teams. It will be no surprise if some of you move on to represent your country in international events like the SEA and Commonwealth Games, or even the World Championships. You should dream big, and work hard to make your dreams reality.

6 I urge all of you to give your best effort and compete in the true spirit of sportsmanship and fair play. While you pit your skills and talents against your opponents, you should also build camaraderie with them off the court. You should take this opportunity to make new friends so that you can keep in touch with them. ASEAN competitions such as this are valuable opportunities to build friendships among people of different cultures within ASEAN. These friendships will stay in your mind.

7 In closing, I would like to take this opportunity once again to extend a warm welcome to all officials and participants. I wish all of you the very best in this championship and hope that you will have a pleasant stay and experience in Singapore. Do enjoy yourselves, as I am sure that over the next few days you will have an exciting and memorable time.

8 It is now my pleasant duty to declare the 1st ASEAN Schools Netball Championship 2003 officially open.