Singapore, April 29, 2022: IOC President Thomas Bach visited Singapore on Thursday, April 28 and was praised for steering the Olympic Movement through the turbulent times of the pandemic.
The President of the Singapore National Olympic Council, Mr. Tan Chuan-jin, said the leadership of President Bach was critical in pushing the Olympic Movement through the last two years of unprecedented challenges.
“We’ve had a rough start to the decade. Though there were challenging moments, the Olympic Movement pressed on and united through the Tokyo and Beijing Olympic Games, and sports,” he said in a lunch to welcome President Bach. It was the first SNOC large-scale social event organised since the pandemic started in 2020.
“President Bach, your leadership under such turbulent times provided a steady hand in steering us out of the storm.”
President Bach was making a one-day visit to Singapore, where he met national leaders and toured latest breakthroughs in virtual sports here amid a renewed vigour of the Olympic Movement worldwide.
IOC Member and Vice President Ng Ser Miang also lauded the President’s leadership through difficult times.
“Singapore has been an active member of the Olympic Movement and we thank President Bach for leading the Movement and holding firm to our values, our principles and our mission,” he said.
Mr Ng added that President Bach had been indefatigable in pushing for global unity through sports, with unwavering attempts in urging world leaders to promote peace in a divided world fractured by conflict.
“You asked them to give peace a chance and reaffirmed our values of peace, solidarity and non-discrimination in sport for whatever reason,” said Mr Ng.
From the moment Mr Bach’s plane landed on the tarmac of Changi Airport at 6am, he headed on a day-long whirlwind adventure around Singapore.
The morning saw him treated to a bevy of virtual sports demonstrations at the National Stadium, as he witnessed how taekwondo’s physicality and archery’s accuracy could all be honed digitally with the help of VR headsets and motion-tracking devices.
In the afternoon, he called on the Republic of Singapore’s President Halimah Yacob at the Istana, where the two dignitaries exchanged views. Mr Bach was joined by Mr Tan, Mr Ng and Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong.
An immersive experience of the Garden City followed, as he proceeded to the National Orchid Garden at Botanic Gardens, where an orchid - Dendrobium Thomas Bach - was named in his honour. It was followed by a visit to Gardens by the Bay and a tree dedication at the popular tourist destination.
Source: Singapore National Olympic Council
