Public officers once again demonstrated their unwavering dedication to fitness, teamwork and friendship, with an impressive turnout of over 30,000 participants from 38 agencies at the  Public Service STAR Games 2024. Behind this success stood the tireless efforts and passion of sports liaison officers (SLOs) and sports activists, who diligently organised each sporting event.

Recognising these collaborative contributions from various agencies, the Public Service STAR Games Awards 2025, held on 27 February 2025 at the Ruby Ballroom in CSC @ Tessensohn, honoured the top-performing teams with awards. It was accompanied by a sumptuous dinner to mark the celebratory occasion.

Mr Tan Hock Leong, Chairman of CSC Board of Games, giving an opening address

The evening commenced with an opening address by Mr Tan Hock Leong, Chairman of CSC Board of Games. During his speech, Mr Tan announced exciting plans for expanding the Games in 2025. 

Basketball, canoe sprint, volleyball, dragon boat race, archery and football will be held in collaboration with SportSG’s Pesta Sukan Games which are going to be bigger this year to celebrate SG60.  2025 will see the introduction of Indoor Rowing and 3-6-9 Bowling as new events and in collaboration with SportSG, avid cyclists can look forward to the Round-Island Cycle starting and ending at the CSC Changi.

“CSC will continue to host the games in premier sports facilities around Singapore, in collaboration with SportSG, to enhance the sporting experience,” shared Mr Tan. He also revealed the potential debut of the Public Service Swimming Meet at the OCBC Aquatic Centre, remarking: “It will be truly spectacular, as this is the very same venue hosting the World Aquatics Championship.”

Mr Tan extended his heartfelt gratitude to the sports liaison officers, sports convenors and team managers for their tireless efforts in putting together for their support and the success of the series of STAR games held in 2024. “I encourage all of you to keep inspiring colleagues and agencies to carry forward the values of teamwork and an active lifestyle through participation,” said Mr Tan to much applause.

Mr Ahmad Shah, sports liaison officer of MOE receiving his recognition award from Mr Brian Phua (right), CSC Board of Games member.  

Mr Lim Hong Zhen, sports liaison officer of SportSG, receiving his recognition award from Ms Camilia Li (right), CSC Board of Games member. 

Mr Seah Goh, sports liaison officer of HDB, receiving his recognition award from Mr Norman Tan (right), CSC Board of Games member. 

Going the extra mile to increase participation

The evening also saw awards to recognise agencies that went the extra mile to drive staff participation in the 2024 STAR games being presented. In the Division I category, the Most Supportive Organisation award went to Ministry of Home Affairs with a participation of 34 games while Sport Singapore clinched the top spots in both the Highest Participation and Highest Increase in Participation awards. In the Division II category, Government Technology Agency with 28 games in its belt, won the Most Supportive Organisation award while the top spots in the Highest Participation and Highest Increase in Participation awards went to Civil Service College and Ministry of Foreign Affairs respectively. 

Mr Tan Hock Leong presenting the Most Supportive Organisation award to Mr Dinesh Verlachamy, sports liaison officer of MHA.

MHA and JTC stay on top

Mr Colin Tan (centre), Chairman and Mr Tan Chai Chong (left), Vice-Chairman of Sports & Recreation Guild of Home Team with the Division I STAR Games Challenge Trophy won by MHA. 

MHA’s Home Team – Division I Overall Champion of Public Service STAR Games 2024

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) continued its reign in Division I, securing three-year consecutive win at the Public Service STAR Games 2024 with an impressive 80 points. In a dramatic finish, MHA and the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) ended with the same total points, but MHA clinched the top spot thanks to a stronger overall performance — securing second place in seven tournaments compared to MINDEF’s five.

MHA’s sustained success is a testament to its athletes’ commitment and passion, shared Mr Desmond Ong of the Singapore Police Force, who also serves as a sports convenor for MHA’s dragon boat team. “A lot of the time, our team members train on weekends and days off, sacrificing personal time and taking time away from their primary duties,” said Mr Ong. “Despite this, they’ve continued to push themselves, and it’s inspiring to see the team’s dedication translate into results.”

Mr Hu Weijie (left), JTC sports liaison officer with JTC, and Mr Hubert Tan (centre), chairperson of JTC’s sports committee, Division II STAR Games Challenge Trophy won by JTC Corporation.

In Division II, JTC Corporation emerged victorious, excelling in sports such as e-sports, basketball, badminton, golf and bowling. JTC reclaimed the top position from the Ministry of Social and Family Development, reaffirming its strength in the competition. “For the 2025 games, we’re excited to see different agencies come together in the spirit of participation,” said Mr Hubert Tan, chairperson of JTC’s sports committee. “I want to thank our teammates for their dedication, balancing training and competition alongside their work commitments.”

JTC’s commitment to sports extends beyond competition, fostering a culture of discovery and participation. Mr Hu Weijie, a SLO from JTC, competed in over 20 events in last year’s Public Service STAR Games, including bowling, floorball and basketball. “I was able to pick up new hobbies through STAR Games. I’m thankful to CSC for introducing new sports, and for JTC’s sports committee in encouraging us to explore new kinds of sports that we can excel in,” he said.

Strives for excellence

Housing & Development Board (HDB) made a comeback to the top four in Division I at the Public Service STAR Games — an achievement last seen in 2003. The well-earned placement was a proud moment for Mr Seah Goh, HDB’s SLO, who credited the dedication and hard work of his colleagues. “We had no expectations to get into the top four, so it was gratifying to see our colleagues’ efforts pay off,” said Mr Goh.

Despite facing stiff competition from agencies with a larger pool of athletes, HDB’s teams stood out in various events, scoring significant points in the steps challenge, snooker, golf and table tennis — key contributions that helped secure their fourth-place finish. Beyond the competition, Mr Goh hopes to see even more of his HDB colleagues adopt an active lifestyle through team sports. “Being active is something I aspire towards — it’s about freedom of movement and feeling alive,” he added.

Sport Singapore (SportSG), despite finishing seventh in Division I at the 2024 Public Service STAR Games, is looking ahead to 2025’s games with renewed determination. “We were promoted from Division II to Division I years back, which meant we were punching above our weight,” said Mr Najib Mashuni, Chairman of the SportSG Recreation Club.  With major ministries like MHA and MINDEF fielding strong teams across multiple sports, SportSG faced stiff competition. However, Mr Mashuni and his team are already strategising ways to improve their performance in the coming year.

While they may not have topped the rankings, SportSG proudly took home the Highest Participation and Highest Increase in Participation Awards in Division I — an achievement that aligns perfectly with its mission to promote an active lifestyle for all Singaporeans. “We want to maintain high participation in the games. As Singapore’s foremost sporting body, we need to practice what we preach and walk the talk!” said Mr Mashuni.

With the spirit of camaraderie and competition stronger than ever, CSC wishes all athletes the best of luck in the 2025 Public Service STAR Games!

Public officers can check out the Public Service STAR Games 2025 calendar for upcoming events, key dates and exciting new sports. Plan your participation and rally your teams for another thrilling year of competition!