Show support for S’pore athletes in SEA Games as national pride at stake: Lawrence Wong

SINGAPORE — Orchard Road was turned into a sea of red today (March 7), as Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Lawrence Wong urged Singaporeans to show their support for the country’s athletes during the 28th South-East Asian Games (SEA Games).

He pointed out that everyone is a member of One Team Singapore and that national pride is at stake as the athletes are competing on home soil.

“In 90 days, we will host the SEA Games – the region’s most iconic sporting event. The spotlight will be on Singapore, so let us all come together as a nation, as One Team Singapore, to give our Team Singapore athletes the boost to reach their best,” he said.

Supporters turned up today dressed in red to countdown 90 days to the SEA Games as well as to cheer Singapore’s athletes on.

The sportsmen and sportswomen will be competing against over 5,000 of the region’s best athletes in 36 sports between June 5 and 16.

As part of the celebration, Mr Wong led athletes, officials, coaches, volunteers and the community in a call to support Singapore’s national athletes as “One Team Singapore”.

EXCO Chairman of Singapore Southeast Asian Games Organising Committee (SINGSOC) Lim Teck Yin said: “We are the hosts and we should make all our guests – athletes, officials and friends from the South-east Asian community feel welcomed. So, let’s own the Games and extend the best hospitality to the region. As we cheer for our athletes, remember to encourage other athletes too. After all, we are all friends from the South-East Asian community.”

This is the sixth event in the Pedestrian Night On Orchard Road initiative, which has been held on the first Saturday of every month since last October. During the festivities, the largest ever Team Singapore flag measuring 10m by 7m was hoisted after it was passed along Orchard Road by thousands of athletes, volunteers and members of the public. The SEA Games Arch was also lit up at Scotts Road and will be there until June 20.

Apart from that, there were also meet and greet sessions with Team Singapore athletes, and members of the public were given the chance to experience sports such as football, rugby, basketball and badminton right in the middle of Orchard Road. There were also performances from local artistes such as the Sam Willows, Daphne Khoo and Tabitha Nauser.

Team Singapore rhythmic gymnast Tong Kah Mun, who was at the event, had the opportunity to perform on stage to the crowd. She said the support was heartwarming. “I really feel that such an enthusiastic home ground support will make a significant difference in my performance come June at the SEA Games,” she said.

Team Singapore Rugby 7s Captain Daniel Chow added: “Our team is at the last phase of training for SEA Games and today’s event is a timely intervention to remind us that the nation is behind us. I am simply awed and definitely motivated to push further in my preparations so that in June at the SEA Games, everyone will be cheering us with pride.”