Three Singaporeans have been honoured for their contribution to the Olympic Movement ©SNOC

Three Singaporeans have been honoured for their contribution to the Olympic Movement at a special awards presentation held at Faber Peak.

Singapore’s first-ever Olympic medallist Tan Howe Liang, who won weightlifting silver at Rome 1960, water polo athlete Tan Eng Liang, who represented his country at the 1956 Games in Melbourne, and Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) secretary general Chris Chan. were all given the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Order of Merit.

A host of sporting officials and delegates attended the ceremony, including SNOC President Tan Chuan-Jin and Singaporean IOC member Ng Ser Miang.

ActiveSG, a participation scheme aimed at getting more people involved in sport in the Asian nation launched by Sport Singapore, was also recognised with the IOC Trophy “Sport and innovation”.

The initiative has so far attracted around one million members and has been well received in the country.

It beat off competition from Singapore Sports School and the Singapore Sports Institute.

Sport Singapore's ActiveSG programme was given the IOC Trophy Sport and Innovation
Sport Singapore's ActiveSG programme was given the IOC Trophy Sport and Innovation ©SNOC

“Many successful roles in sport require passion, dedication and largely, a spirit of volunteerism and willingness to do something good for the community,” SNOC President Tan said.

“A culture of appreciation and recognition is important to express our gratitude to these unsung heroes and to acknowledge the value of such deeds.

“The lives of Mr Tan Howe Liang, Dr Tan Eng Liang and Mr Chris Chan espoused deeds which have served our community and created a meaningful impact to the Olympic Movement.

“My heartiest congratulations goes out to them for this special recognition from the IOC.”

Tan How Liang was chosen for the IOC Order of Merit as he remains a popular role model in Singapore for the nation’s rising athletes.

Tan Eng Liang, who has served as an SNOC vice-president since 1991, led the Singaporean team at a host of major events including the 2008 Olympics and last year’s South East Asian Games on home soil, where they claimed 259 medals.

Chan plays active roles at the Southeast Asian Games Federation, Commonwealth Games Federation and Olympic Council of Asia and was involved with the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics in Singapore along with Tan.