Remarks by President Halimah Yacob for the 32nd International Olympiad in Informatics Virtual Opening Ceremony

A warm welcome to everyone joining us at the 32nd International Olympiad in Informatics. I am glad that despite the COVID-19 pandemic, we are able to virtually gather today for the Olympiad.

The pandemic has underscored the importance of technology in our lives and livelihoods. Even though our social and economic activities have been severely disrupted during this period, digital technology has helped us adjust to new norms, and ease the impact of the pandemic.

In Singapore, this also means an acceleration of our digital transformation, especially in our Smart Nation’s initiatives. And at the core of this effort is our computing talent, who need to have the relevant digital skills and knowledge.

The Olympiad is a useful platform for youths from around the world to pit your skills in computing against one another, and gain valuable learning experience. With over 80 nations participating in this year’s Olympiad, it is indeed a remarkable achievement to be able to represent your country in this prestigious competition.

Over the next few days, you will be tested on your knowledge and technical skills, as well as your problem-solving abilities under time pressure.

In our daily hustle and bustle, not many notice the incredibly important role played by our environmental services workers. Allow me to highlight three such examples of workers who have gone the extra mile to keep Singapore clean and green.

I hope the Olympiad will be a rewarding experience for you, and will motivate you to continue pursuing your interest in informatics. I wish you all the best for this competition.