On Tuesday (August 1), the Singapore Olympic Foundation (SOF)-Peter Lim Scholarship marked its 15th anniversary, having disbursed more than S$12.61 million to support aspiring athletes over the years.
The scholarship was first introduced in 2010 when a Singaporean tycoon and philanthropist, Peter Lim, donated S$10 million to help promising athletes pursue their sporting dreams without being hindered by financial challenges.
In 2019, he doubled down with another $10 million, extending the scholarship’s lifespan to 2030.
The ceremony, held at Temasek Convention Centre, was attended by Mr Teo Chee Hean, Patron of the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) and former Deputy Prime Minister; Ms Grace Fu, SNOC President and Minister for Sustainability and the Environment; and Mr Ng Ser Miang, Chairman of the Singapore Olympic Foundation.
South African Olympic and world swimming champion Chad le Clos also made a special appearance to present some of the awards, much to the excitement of the young recipients; as well as Kiat Lim, Chairman of RSP and Director of Singapore Olympic Foundation, signalling a new chapter in the Lim’s continued commitment to Singapore sport.
All you need to know about the scholarship
Over the past 15 years, the SOF-Peter Lim Scholarship has supported athletes who have gone on to become household names, including Olympic gold medallist Joseph Schooling and Asian Games champion Shanti Pereira. But just as significantly, it has enabled thousands of less visible athletes to keep chasing their goals.
This year, 346 student-athletes from 106 schools and across 39 sports received S$1.05 million in scholarships. Among them were 99 high-performance Under-18 athletes, including Kyra Seow Kai Hui, the first Modern Pentathlon athlete to receive the award, and Caitlyn Anne Tan, who represented Singapore in artistic swimming at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships.
Speaking on behalf of the Lim family, Kiat Lim shared that the scholarship represents the continuation of the Lim family’s philanthropic efforts, which date back more than 15 years, as a reminder to use their privilege to uplift others. Before this, Lim launched the Kiat Lim-Shaping Hearts Award last November, which is the first award he personally funded.
As someone who has been involved in this journey from early on, the Scholarship has shaped how I see giving, not as a one-time act, but as a sustained commitment to recognising diverse forms of potential, especially in youths who may flourish better outside conventional paths. Carrying this forward is something I intend to do and is close to my heart.
Kiat Lim, Chairman of RSP and Director of Singapore Olympic Foundation
- Learn more about the Singapore Olympic Foundation (SOF)-Peter Lim Scholarship here.
- Read more stories we have written on Singapore startups here.
Featured Image Credit: Singapore Olympic Foundation