PM Lee speaks to Singapore Olympic chef de mission during National Day Rally address

University Cultural Centre, Sunday, 17 August, 2008 – In a unique moment of convergence between sports, media and politics, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong paused in the midst of his National Day Rally speech to make a ‘live’ conference call to Dr Tan Eng Liang, chef de mission of the Singapore Olympic contingent.

The timing of the rally coincided with the Olympic women's table tennis team gold medal game, and the Prime Minister interrupted his speech twice to give his audience a score update. Soon after Li Jia Wei lost the second match, PM wound up his thoughts on social graces in Singapore, then told his audience, "I just got an update on the games, Singapore 0, China 2. The game is still progressing."

About an hour later, after speaking on measures to encourage marriage and procreation, Prime Minister Lee said, "I've got a message, we have lost 0-3. We were up against a very strong China team. I think they've done us proud. We should congratulate them," he said, to applause from the audience.

But he saved his most surprising moment for last. Concluding his discussion on how Singapore's politics would need to adapt in response to technology and new media, PM Lee said, "I have one more demonstration – Hello Team Singapore?"

To the surprise of the audience, a voice replied, "Good evening PM." The voice belonged to Dr Tan Eng Liang, Vice-President of the Singapore National Olympic Council and Team Singapore's chef de mission to the Beijing Olympics. Dr Tan informed PM — and the audience at the University Cultural Centre — that Singapore had lost the match against China. "They are a better team with better skills and technique. But our paddlers tried their best and played well,” he said.

To loud applause from the audience, PM thanked the women's table tennis team by name, as well as the whole Singapore Olympic Team. "You've done us proud, you've carried the flag high," he said. "Send our best wishes and congratulations to the team."