Sporting Talents from Unions recognised at the Labour Movement’s Annual Key Sporting Event – U Sports Awards Night 2016
Awards were given out to unions and members who embody the U Sports values – U.P.R.I.D.E (Unity, Passion, Respect, Inspiration, Determination & Excellence).
Singapore, 17 May 2016 – After a tabulation of all the scores achieved throughout U Games 15/16, The Singapore Manual & Mercantile Workers' Union (SMMWU) emerged as the Top Union once again at the eighth U Sports Awards Night 2016, held at D’Marquee in Downtown East.
U Games – The Olympics of the Labour Movement
U Games 15/16, the annual inter-union sporting tournament, saw 8,000 participants from 46 unions competing in 13 different sports. U Games allows union members to participate and fight for top positions at each individual event, racking up points for their respective unions. At the end of the season, the union with the highest points will be crowned the top union of the U Games.
SMMWU fought off strong contenders to be crowned the Top Union for the fifth successive year. United Workers of Electronics & Electrical Industries (UWEEI), finished as the first runner-up, followed closely by Amalgamated Union of Public Employees (AUPE) in third place.
Guest of Honour, NTUC President, Sis Mary Liew mentioned in her speech, “To date we have 40 Unions Sports Clubs who have organised their own sports-related events. Various Unions and U Sports have also co-organised sports events such as Chemical Industries Employees' Union (CIEU) and Singapore Industrial and Services Employees' Union (SISEU) Nite-on-Wheels for over 300 union members. This shows us that sports engages our union members! It is one of our key mission to build sports capabilities, foster team-spirit and camaraderie across all ages amongst our members’ and through their participation in the Labour Movement annual iconic multi-sports competition, U Games.”
As the sporting community of the Labour Movement, U Sports aims to bring together members of all ages with a common passion for sports. Through its comprehensive and exciting calendar of sports-related events and activities, U Sports creates opportunities to encourage camaraderie among union members and build a community of sports enthusiasts.
U Sports Awards Night 2016
This year, U Sports presented key awards according to the U PRIDE trophy that was launched during last year’s awards night. The six pillars of the trophy represent important values that are an inherent part of a sportsperson’s DNA: U for Unity, P for Passion, R for Respect, I for Inspiration, D for Determination, and E for Excellence.
The U Sports Awards Night is not only an event to celebrate winners in the U Games and U Sports Team, but it is also an occasion to honour the people who worked tirelessly ‘behind the scenes’. Various awards were dedicated to the partners, sponsors, team managers, supporters and unions because they were as much a part of the team as the actual players on the field.
“It is always wonderful to attend a sporting event, regardless whether I’m a participant or as a spectator. The spirit and enthusiasm, the sweat and tears, they drive our passion not just for the game or for the sport but for the team. With support from our unions, we are able to collaborate, educate and advocate for more opportunities and exposure for union members to become leaders in sports. I truly believe in U Sports’ effort in driving a stronger and more vibrant sporting community” said Mr Yeo Khee Leng, Chief Executive Officer of NTUC Club.
Growing and Strengthening a Community of Leaders through Sports
In addition to honouring sporting achievements, U Sports also emphasised the importance of grooming sporting excellence and encouraging sports community leaders to step forward and give back to society. One programme that U Sports leaders to undergo is the U CHAMP programme – a leadership and capability development programme which nurtures sports leaders within the Labour Movement through a customised system of training and coaching.
This year’s U Games Sportswoman of the Year, Jean Chia from Singapore Teachers Union (STU), who have undergone the U CHAMP programme says, “The U CHAMP programme has definitely helped to develop capabilities in areas such as sports coaching and leadership so that we are equipped with the skill and values to contribute back to our team and the U Sports community. We get to see what goes on behind-the-scenes work for sports events and we get to have hands-on experience in a variety of ways. To see sportsmanship and to forge new friendship among the affiliate unions gives me a sense of all-inclusiveness that represents what U Sports is all about.”
To date, U Sports has groomed a total of 130 sports community leaders that have stepped up to initiate, plan and organise sporting events. Beyond just engaging union members through sports and encouraging a healthier workforce, U Sports aims increase outreach and create opportunities for union members to enhance interaction and forge strong community bonds amongst unions and their members. U Sports will also work closely with unions to further develop their members’ leadership capabilities to nurture more activists who can step up and become leaders in the sporting community of the Labour Movement.