SINGAPORE: There will be” sustained help” for budding artists and sports skills, and other activities as part of the refreshed , President’s Challenge.  ,
Set up in 2000,  , the original scope of the annual funding function was to help create a more nurturing and coherent society, and to support the less fortunate.
Its range has since been broadened, with the implementation of annual elements like caring for carers and empowering people with disabilities, but it will then get “beyond social improvement”.  ,
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam also noted at the launch of the refreshed , President’s Challenge on Wednesday ( Sep 4 ) that community donations to the Community Chest are growing, while donations to social causes are seeing the highest levels of giving as well as volunteering.
The “refreshing and repurposing” of the President’s Challenge is” so fast” as it comes amid “positive advancements”, which help to create a broader panorama of giving and charity for some cultural reasons, he said.
Mr Tharman added:” Its simple objective, going beyond immediate requirements, will be to achieve sustained social effect: By uplifting desires and possible, especially amongst those who start with greater chances”.
The expanded focus of the event is to ensure that their growth is sustained “over the years” as well as promoting probable in the arts and sports, especially for those who are less fortunate.  ,
” In both athletics and the arts, achievement is shaped by skill, but it also depends significantly on odds and even upsets”, said Mr Tharman.  ,
” Many of our best people first discovered anything by accident, discovered they could do it, gained some enjoyment from it, and spent years developing their skills in the arts or game.”
We want to support each talent’s development continue over the years by expanding those options and opportunities for them to be discovered.
Nur Syahidah Alim, a nationwide para-athlete, was just one of the examples cited by Mr. Tharman. Born with diplegia, which is a form of cerebral palsy affecting one’s ability to walk or stand, she , was excused from participating in physical education ( PE ) during school.
But Nur Syahidah , stumbled upon archery at 18 after attending an event organised by the Singapore Disability Sports Council ( SDSC ) and “has not looked back since”, he added.
The second Singaporean to become , a world champion in para-archery after winning gold at the 2019 World Archery Para Championship, she , advanced to the , children’s substances available 1/8 reduction round at , the , Tokyo Paralympics.
Nur Syahidah also participated at the Paris Paralympics, exiting the women’s compound open competition in the round of 32 last week.
Mr Tharman said the one of the aims of the refreshed President’s Challenge is to give an “extra lift” to disability sports.  ,
He also used the example of para-athlete , Colin Soon. The 19-year-old national para-swimmer, despite being visually impaired, clinched multiple medals at last year’s ASEAN Para Games, showing “what is possible”.
Soon, who was at the event, told CNA:” I certainly hope this would definitely improve all areas of everyone’s sport and also raise the accessibility of it, such that more talents can be spotted, and also bring awareness to para-sports in general, and also make it a much better environment for everyone” . ,
The President’s Challenge will also partner with SportSG to “expand chances and thicken the pipeline” of future talents, including by supporting SportSG’s partnerships with schools,  , Mr Tharman added.