PM Lawrence Wong at the Inaugural Paralympic Day

President of SNPC, Dr. Teo-Koh Sock Miang
Ladies and Gentlemen

Good morning. It is very good to be back in East Coast Park, a familiar area to me. I grew up just across the road in Marine Parade. Every weekend, I would be here, when I was growing up. So it is always good to be back on the east side. I want to give a shout out to Sock, whom I have known for a long time. I think it has been more than a decade now, since I have first met her in MCCY and we were talking about para sports. She has long been a champion for para sport and the paralympic movement, a real stalwart, a steadfast leader, and has done so much for the community. So give a big round of applause to her. Thank you very much.

I am very happy to join all of you today, for our very first Paralympic Day.

Today is a celebration of all our para-athletes – we celebrate your grit, your courage, your determination.

These qualities are at the heart of the Paralympic Movement. And they remind us to give everyone the chance to realise their potential, and to become the best possible version of ourselves.

And they matter beyond sport. They speak to the kind of Singapore we want to build – one where everyone is respected, valued, and given the chance to contribute.

So today is more than a celebration of sporting achievement. It is another step forward in our journey towards a more inclusive Singapore.

We have made good progress on this journey.

Over the years, we have strengthened our support for persons with disabilities.

And we have plans to do more.

Recently I spoke at the National Day Rally. I shared a lot about what we want to do for families. I think you would have heard the news. Those with children, I hope are receiving the news positively. But I have made very clear that when we support families, it is more than just support for parents with young children. We are supporting all types of families. We are also doing more for seniors, we are doing more for singles, and importantly, we are doing more for persons with disabilities.

And in fact, an inter-agency Taskforce led by SMS Goh Pei Ming has been hard at work on this front. And later this year, they will share their recommendations – including on more support for the school-to-work transition, more employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, and stronger community support. So we can all look forward to their recommendations in due course.

In para sport, we have also been doing more. We have invested steadily in better facilities, in coaching and opportunities – so that people can take part in sports, and more athletes can train and compete at the highest levels.

I want to recognise the many people who have stepped forward in para sport – the SNPC, our sports associations, coaches, officials, volunteers, families and sponsors who are here. Thank you everyone for all that you do.

Above all, our para-athletes have led the way. They are here today. Through your discipline, courage and perseverance, you have challenged assumptions, and shown us what is possible, and made Singapore proud.

So to all our para-athletes, thank you for inspiring us.

Some of you will be preparing for the Asian Para Games later this year in Japan: we wish you every success. Give it your all and know that Singapore will be cheering you on every step of the way.

Ultimately, inclusion is not achieved by policies alone. It is built through the choices we make every day – whether we see ability before disability, recognise what every person can contribute, and give everyone a fair chance to do so.

Every Singaporean has a part to play in this. And that is why I am glad to see all of you here today for this inaugural Paralympic Day. Your presence sends a very strong message: that we stand with our para-athletes, and we want to build a more inclusive Singapore together.

Later today, many of you will be taking part in the Walkathon.

We may move and walk in different ways and at different speeds.

But together, we walk as one people and move forward as one united Singapore.

So together, let us build a better and more inclusive Singapore.

Thank you very much and enjoy the rest of the day.