Contributed by Lorna Campbell
IMM Mall, Singapore, June 8, 2008 – The Singapore Sports Council (SSC) has organised a series of events to rally the nation’s support for Team Singapore athletes going to the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth & Sports (MCYS) officially launched the first Olympic best-wishes campaign as Guest of Honour at the IMM Mall earlier this month.
Mr Oon Jin Teik, Chief Executive Officer, SSC said, "Through this series of well-wishing activities, we strongly encourage all Singaporeans to support their athletes. Many have been training hard physically and mentally so as to do their best at the Games. Therefore, let's rally together behind these athletes and motivate them further by wishing them well. The well wishes will serve to inspire the athletes further knowing that they have the support of many at home. We are getting ever closer to reaching the dream of bringing an Olympic medal home so let's turn this dream into a reality."
Making up the supporters were former Olympic paddler Jing Jun Hong and former Olympic sailor Siew Shaw Her and ten children from Sports On! Kids Club who were also present to show their support for the Team Singapore athletes. The Well-Wishing Campaign for the Olympic-bound athletes was the first activity organised for Sport On! Kids Club, which was also launched today. They have all attended the well-wishing launch to cheer on the athletes.
In a bid to garner a total of 100,000 best wishes, various platforms with partners have been put together for Singaporeans to show their support for Team Singapore athletes. The public can obtain and drop their well-wishing cards into boxes placed at various locations, including 22 McDonald's restaurants, CapitaLand Malls, the Samsung Flagship Store and at various SSC sports facilities (see below).
In addition, the public can look forward to two Olympic-themed road shows, which will be held at Jurong East Sports Hall on 29 June 2008 and the National Library on 19 July 2008. Singaporeans can expect to learn more about the Olympic movement and also pen their best wishes for Singapore's Olympic contingent at these road shows. As part of the campaign, there will be a lucky draw where one lucky wisher will win a travel package for two worth over S$6000 to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
The official send-off for the Team Singapore contingent headed for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games is on 2 August 2008. For more details on the campaign, please visit www.teamsingapore.com.sg.
Location of Well Wishing Boxes
1) McDonald's Restaurants
1. McDonald's Bedok Interchange
2. McDonald's Geylang East Central
3. McDonald's North Bridge Road
4. McDonald's China Town Point
5. McDonald's North Point
6. McDonald's SunPlaza
7. McDonald's Tampines Mart
8. McDonald's Bukit Panjang Plaza
9. McDonald's Tanglin Mall
10. McDonald's Shaw Centre
11. McDonald's Harbour Front
12. McDonald's Kallang
13. McDonald's IMM
14. McDonald's King Albert Park
15. McDonald's West Coast Park
16. McDonald's East Coast Park
17. McDonald's Ang Mo Kio Park
18. McDonald's Bukit Merah
19. McDonald's Choa Chu Kang Lot 1
20. McDonald's Great World City
21. McDonald's NUS
22. McDonald's United Square
2) Capitaland Malls
1. Bugis Junction
2. Funan DigitaLife Mall
3. IMM
4. Junction 8
5. Bukit Panjang Plaza
6. Lot One
7. Plaza Singapura
8. Raffles City
9. Tampines Mall
3) Singapore Sports Council's Facilities
Gymnasiums
1. Yio Chu Kang Clubfitt Gymnasium
2. Yishun Clubfitt Gymnasium
3. Woodlands Clubfitt Gymnasium
4. Choa Chu Kang Clubfitt Gymnasium
5. Bt Gombak Clubfitt Gymnasium
6. Clementi Clubfitt Gymnasium
7. Jurong West Clubfitt Gymnasium
8. Delta Clubfitt Gymnasium
9. Jurong East Clubfitt Gymnasium
10. Toa Payoh Clubfitt Gymnasium
11. Bedok Clubfitt Gymnasium
12. Bishan Clubfitt Gymnasium
13. Hougang Clubfitt Gymnasium
14. Tampines Clubfitt Gymnasium
Swimming Complexes
1. Yio Chu Kang Swimming Complex
2. Yishun Swimming Complex
3. Woodlands Swimming Complex
4. Choa Chu Kang Swimming Complex
5. Bukit Batok Swimming Complex
6. Clementi Swimming Complex
7. Queenstown Swimming Complex
8. Buona Vista Swimming Complex
9. Jurong West Swimming Complex
10. Delta Swimming Complex
11. Jalan Besar Swimming Complex
12. Jurong East Swimming Complex
13. Toa Payoh Swimming Complex
14. Kallang Basin Swimming Complex
15. Katong Swimming Complex
16. Geylang East Swimming Complex
17. Bedok Swimming Complex
18. Ang Mo Kio Swimming Complex
19. Bishan Swimming Complex
20. Serangoon Swimming Complex
21. Hougang Swimming Complex
22. Tampines Swimming Complex
Sports Halls
1. Yio Chu Kang Sports Hall
2. Yishun Sports Hall
3. Woodlands Sports Hall
4. Choa Chu Kang Sports Hall
5. Bukit Gombak Sports Hall
6. Clementi Sports Hall
7. Jurong West Sports Hall
8. Delta Sports Hall
9. Jurong East Sports & Cultural Centre
10. Toa Payoh Sports Hall
11. Kallang Family Fitness Centre
12. Bedok Sports Hall
13. Bishan Sports Hall
14. Hougang Sports Hall
15. Tampines Sports Hall
I will be supporting the sailors, Lee Wung Yew and Tao Li.
But hand on heart, I cannot bring myself to support the table tennis teams even though they have the best chance of winning medals.
Yes, I know the paddlers would have made many sacrifices to get where they are, and so I will empathise with them.
But I cannot support an NSA which has gone about the wrong way in trying to grab success on the international stage. And so, I will be completely disinterested in the exploits of our paddlers.