Team Singapore Athletes Hosted Less Privileged Children At Singapore Flyer

Some 100 Team Singapore athletes took time off from their busy training schedules today to do their part for charity. These athletes played host to 25 children aged 12 to 18 years old from the Pertapis Children's Home at the first Team Singapore Athletes' Gathering held at the Singapore Flyer this year.

This was also the first time that the Athletes Community Involvement Programme was integrated into a Team Singapore Athletes' Gathering. The programme was a platform for Team Singapore athletes to reach out to the less fortunate so as to inspire them to take up sports and build rapport with one another. Athletes spent a fun-filled day with the children (Please refer to Annex B for list of Team Singapore athletes).

Held on a quarterly basis, the Team Singapore Athletes' Gathering also provides a platform for athletes and officials in the sports fraternity to enhance their friendship and camaraderie with the community. These gatherings also allow the athletes to learn more about Singapore and its heritage.

"This is a special occasion where our athletes put aside time from their training schedules to do their part for the under privileged. The Singapore Sports Council (SSC) is pleased to have the opportunity to organise this for our young friends from Pertapis and inculcate in them a sporting lifestyle. We hope to be able to make a difference in their lives and get them all excited about sports," said Mr Bervyn Lee, Director, Sports Culture, Sports Marketing Group, SSC.

Highlights At Team Singapore Athletes' Gathering

The day kicked off with a special "Kampong Glam Challenge", which was facilitated by the Singapore Original Walk. Both athletes and children explored the Kampong Glam area to trace the history of the Johore Empire and learned more about the Malay heritage, which included its architecture, traditions and Islamic practices.

This was followed by a lunch reception at the Singapore Flyer. After the lunch, the athletes and the children got the opportunity to take a 30-minute ride on the Singapore Flyer. Equivalent to the height of a 42-storey building, the Singapore Flyer allowed them to enjoy breathtaking and panoramic views of Singapore's attractions such as the Changi Airport and Sentosa Island, and beyond the shorelines of Malaysia and Indonesia.

The event also saw the unveiling of a special banner put up by the Singapore Flyer to congratulate Singapore on her successful bid to host the Youth Olympic Games 2010 by the Singapore Flyer.

Said Mr. Florian Bollen, Chairman of Singapore Flyer Pte Ltd, "We are extremely excited to share with the athletes and the children from Pertapis Children's Home the unique, moving panoramic experience atop the Singapore Flyer. Together with the Team Singapore athletes, we hope to bring happiness and good cheer to these children and look forward to creating a memorable experience for them and making them feel 'on top of the world' with the Flyer."