Chiam See Tong launches sports foundation

SINGAPORE — ITE College West student Sundramoorthy used to dream about owning his own football boots instead of having to always borrow a pair from his friends to play the sport.

Thanks to veteran politician Chiam See Tong, the 19-year-old, who aspires to be a national footballer one day, saw his dream fulfilled on Thursday (March 9).

Sundramoorthy was one of 15 beneficiaries to receive a new pair of boots, which came courtesy of the new Chiam See Tong Foundation, which was officially launched by the former Member of Parliament (MP) for Potong Pasir on Thursday at Old Parliament House.

To be run by two full-time staff, the foundation aims to help disadvantaged children realise their sporting dreams. It is set to benefit at least 100 children in its first year. 

Both Chiam and his wife Lina Chiam — a former non-constituency MP — will serve as its patrons, while local swimming icon Ang Peng Siong and Singapore Swimming Association (SSA) vice-president Jose Raymond will be the board’s chairman and deputy chairman respectively.

Other members of the 10-strong board include former national sprinter U K Shyam, former national footballer R Sasikumar, as well as Chiam’s daughter, Camilla Chiam.

One of the objectives of the foundation, whose tagline is “We Believe in You”, is to build the character of children and youths from under-resourced families through their participation in sports. It will develop programmes and services to supplement and complement national initiatives for children and youth sports development in Singapore. It will also build key athlete, corporate, and community relationships to increase sporting opportunities for their beneficiaries.

(From left to right: Mr Uk Shyam, Mr Jose Raymond, Mr Ang Peng Siong, Mr Chiam See Tong and Ms Camilla Chiam, at the launch of the foundation. Photo: Noah Tan)

Chiam, who turns 82 on Sunday, said: “Our children are our future, and we must provide them with as many opportunities as possible, so that they will find many paths towards being successful, patriotic Singaporeans.

“Sports is a unifying tool for nation-building and in building strong community bonds. We must continue to find ways to work together as a community, and to continue having faith in our children, and believing in them.”

Ang — whose father, Ang Teck Bee, coached Chiam when he swam for the Anglo-Chinese School — said that he readily accepted the invitation to chair the foundation as he believed in its cause.

“Sports and caring for our fellow man are what drives us,” he said. “It is our desire and hope to provide assistance to many under-resourced youth and children in Singapore, and to help turn them into the champions of tomorrow,” he said.

“He (Chiam) knew the value of sports for a nation, and had spoken up in support of our athletes on many occasions in the past … (and) he was one of the few MPs who sought to have our athletes receive more in funding.

“There is a part for all of us to play, a ‘many hands on deck’ approach so that no one gets left behind in any way.”

The foundation has already raised about S$70,000 from donations by the Chiams and members of the board, and aims to raise at least S$1 million in its first year through fund-raising initiatives and events such as a Swimathon and a fundraising dinner.

Revealing his financial struggles when he was a sprinter, Shyam, who is the secretary of the foundation’s board, said: “It is important to give our young children a helping hand when they need it most, and it is our hope that they become our national champions some day.”

Clutching his new boots, a beaming Sundramoorthy said: “For people like us who don’t have much funds to buy equipment, such things give us the motivation to carry on and chase our dreams. 

“Every footballer dreams of turning professional, and hopefully these boots will be the start of my dream to live up to my namesake (former national player V Sundramoorthy).”

The foundation is currently getting itself registered as a charity with Institution of Public Character (IPC) status.