S’pore Olympians cheered by public in celebratory open-top bus parade through town

SINGAPORE: Ten returning Olympians were cheered on by the public in a celebratory parade on Wednesday (14 Aug) , as an open-top bus traveled through five key locations in the heart of the city.

The event commenced at 11:30 a.m., and despite the rain at the start, many Singaporeans lined the streets to greet and cheer for the athletes.

Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong and Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu, who is also the president of the Singapore National Olympic Council, joined the parade to welcome the athletes back home.

The athletes in the parade included kitefoiler and Paris Games bronze medalist Max Maeder, shuttlers Yeo Jia Min, Terry Hee, and Jessica Tan, swimmer Gan Ching Hwee, kayaker Stephenie Chen, sailor Ryan Lo, sprinter Marc Louis, and table tennis players Izaac Quek and Zhou Jingyi.

The parade route began in front of Marina Bay Sands at around 11:45 a.m.

The bus then proceeded to Chinatown (in front of People’s Park Complex) at 12:00 p.m., made its way to Orchard Road (at the junction of Orchard Road and Bideford Road) at 12:20 p.m., passed through Serangoon Road (after Tekka Market towards the junction of Buffalo Road) at 12:40 p.m., and finally headed to Victoria Street (near the Camera Museum) at 12:45 p.m.

According to reports from The Straits Times (ST), more than 50 people had gathered on Bayfront Avenue at about 11:30 a.m. to show their support for Singapore’s Olympians.

Dressed in red, many were seen waving Team Singapore flags and bearing clappers.

Around noon, approximately 40 people had assembled on Orchard Road, while about 100 people awaited the bus’s arrival in Chinatown.

In Victoria Street, about 80 people were eagerly awaiting the arrival of the athletes’ bus, including Max Maeder’s parents, Mr Valentin Maeder and Ms Teng Hwee Keng.

The athletes expressed their gratitude by waving to the supporters not only at the designated cheer points but also along the entire parade route.

Olympians share their experiences and emotions during the parade

In an interview during the celebratory parade, badminton player Yeo Jia Min reflected on her Olympic journey.

She felt touched by the public’s appreciation of the effort she and her fellow athletes put in, despite not winning.

Yeo emphasized that sports are not just about winning but about the spirit of always challenging oneself.

She expressed happiness at being able to demonstrate this through her matches and hopes to continue doing so in future competitions.

Table tennis player Izaac Quek spoke about the overwhelming support he received from many people, including his teammates.

He found that playing in the Olympics was a unique experience compared to other tournaments and enjoyed himself on the court, which he considers the most important part.

Zhou Jingyi described the previous year as one of intense travel and competition, which she found both mentally and physically exhausting.

However, 2024 marked a turning point for her, as she performed well in several tournaments, boosting her confidence.

“I’m glad I did not give up,” she said.

When discussing the best part of the Olympic Games, Zhou mentioned the incredible atmosphere, both on and off the court.

“The atmosphere was incredible, both on and off the court. Competing against more experienced players was a valuable learning experience.”

Izaac recalled the excitement of stepping onto the court, noting that the arena was nearly full and filled with Singaporean supporters.

Seeing his parents and sisters there made his Olympic experience a dream come true.

Bronze medalist Max Maeder shared his thoughts on the parade, saying “It’s been so positive, and my heart is melting. It’s wonderful to see all the support, and it invigorates me to continue and try to replicate this in any small way possible.”

“This is the beauty of why I do this sport — to positively uplift others and put a smile on people’s faces.”