- Corporate Community Games
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Started in Singapore in Year 2000, Corporate Community Games is a platform that provides working adults and their organizations a link with the larger community of which they are a part- the corporate community. It bridges the various groups with their diverse cultural values and serves the sector as a whole to bring about greater synergy among corporations, which holds great influence in consumer trends that affects social changes, and to effect a proactive approach for the corporate community to look after itself in a sustainable way.
Using Sports, Arts and Gatherings as vehicles for people to participate in; CCG initiates, designs, facilitates and organizes special readymade programmes that draw on the element of “play” to encourage spirited partaking. It brings together working adults from different like-minded organizations, to harness the human spirit and create harmonious relationships so that corporations can collectively share resources and put energy into initiatives that they believe in, look after their own well-being and create meaningful living which are inclusive and engaging for all.
Corporate Community Games brings about
- Harmonious relationships between people in a rapidly integrating world.
- Reflection on the true meaning of progress.
- A connected tripartite relations where government, non-profit and business sectors can all come together in discussion of our concerns, promote awareness and formulate actions and programmes as solutions.
- A search for a new Asian Modernity that can take advantage of the lessons from the West, while remaining grounded in our heritage and tradition.
Contents
Flagship Programme - Sports
In year 2000, Corporate Community Games was launched in Singapore as a not-for-profit initiative, taking shape as a vehicle to bring corporations and people together through Sports. The then “Ministry of Community Development” also identified and incorporated Sports as one of the key areas of their purview, renaming themselves as “Ministry of Community Development and Sports”; at the same time, Corporate Community Games also gained the support of the Ministry and the then Minister Mr Abdullah Tarmugi in the launch of the CCG platform.
The Games slogan was “Beyond Competition – Community through Sports”, corporations were encouraged to adopt a sporting spirit - learn the discipline, sense of purpose, teamwork and sportsmanship, so as to moderate the severe and narrowly focused business competition in society.
Over these years, the platform has taken shape as a friendly Games held annually for working adults to bond through sports as well as adopt a healthy attitude towards improvement through competition and training. Not only can sports build a team’s character, discipline and fitness, the shared experiences in training sessions and the actual competition is a great way to shape a collective identity both internally and with the corporate community as a whole.
CCG Arts & Gatherings
Apart from Sports Programmes, programmes in two more areas were introduced in year 2006 - Arts and Gatherings. These selected areas highlighted ‘Creativity’ and ‘Celebration’ as important elements that help create harmony and draw commitment in a community; which together with Sports, provide multi-faceted programmes of good variety for more well-rounded development for otherwise busy working adults. This was also to help corporations reach out to more people as it was found through dialogue with participating corporations that some have only managed to reach out to 20% of their population through Sports.
Games Statistics
Number of Years the Games has been organized: 9
Total Number of Participants: over 25 000
Total Number of Participated Companies: 282
Number of Participating Companies for 2008: 62
Number of Participating Teams for 2008: 433
Sports Programmes
1. 8-ball Pool
2. Badminton
3. Basketball
4. Beach Netball
5. Beach Soccer
7. Canoeing
8. Captain’s Ball
9. Dragon Boat
10. Futsal
11. Golf
11. Netball
12. Running
13. Soccer
14. Table Tennis
15. Tennis
16. Tenpin Bowling
17. Telematch
18. Volleyball
Arts Programmes
1. Art Jam
Gatherings Programmes
1. Team Leaders’ Gathering
2. Apres-Games
Ad-hoc Programmes
1. CCG Forums & Focus Groups
2. CEOs Charity Walk
3. CEOs Toga Party
4. Gala Dinner
Types of Awards
1. Games Personality Award
2. Corporate Team Leader Award
3. Medallist Games Award
4. CCG Award
5. CCG Team Award
6. Championship Division Awards
7. CCG Community Award
8. East West Award
Games Features
Element of Competition
“The purpose of all types of competition should be to improve the individual, so that by extension, the community and eventually the whole society can be improved. But for all to partake in this spirit of competition, we need to think beyond competition.”
Besides using Sports as a tool to inspire spiritedness, commitment and desire to better oneself; CCG advocates the ideal of “Beyond Competition” as a reminder for corporations and individuals to not focus on competition as a means to an end, but as an impetus for self improvement so that by extension, the group can also improve. The message is reflected in the Sports slogan and more importantly through ensuring interaction amongst participants to be respectful and gracious, and to create harmonious relationships.
Element of Community
“When we indulge in healthy playing, we not only at times defy physical limitations and capture the beauty of human aspiration and imagination; we defy the cynicism that is imposed on our minds. In the process of playing as a team, we learn to appreciate others and become more aware of the interdependence of people. A collective "we" is harnessed that has a positive impact on society.”
Through the platform and the programmes which draw on the element of play and teamwork, corporations create opportunities for their staff to identify with their internal community and gain learning and team spirit, and for themselves to interact amongst like-minded corporations and collectively put together programmes that would enrich their community of stakeholders, and also enliven the corporate community.
Element of Rituals
CCG cultivates social / community practices through designing rituals for participants to partake in so as to create social connection and identity with others; and through celebrations to create encouragement for positive action and energy that participants contribute to this community. These practices reinforce a shared identity and foster greater trust, understanding and mutual appreciation amongst participants.
Rituals and Celebrations include Corporate Flag Presentation, Team Captains’ Armband Exchange, Mass Huddles, Mass Hi-Fives, Medals Presentation and Awards Presentation.
Games Benefits
Intra-Company Teambuilding
- Total Engagement: Top-Down & Bottom-Up Approach to build a spirited corporation and improve communication
- Team-based organization to promote teamwork and promote leadership through non-work avenues
- Award System to create motivation and a sense of accomplishment
- Identity Building Exercise
- Engagement with Different Business Units from various locations
Inter-Company Teambuilding
- Cross-sharing opportunities for organizers to meet up and learn from one another
- Exposure and Opportunities to build Network
Personal Development
- Adjustment and Assimilation into Corporation’s Culture
- Greater Self Awareness and Understanding of the Concept of Interdependence
- Balanced Lifestyle & Competitive Spirit
- Opportunity for Networking
- Development of Leadership Skills
Social Purpose & Benefits
- Bridging of Tripartite Relations
- Development of Social Awareness
- Opportunities to expand Outreach Programmes
- Brand Building Exercise
Learning & Cross-Collaboration
CCG also provides opportunities for corporations to take part in
- Conferences & exhibitions where organizations can showcase not only products and services but also community causes that they support.
- Seminar & workshops where knowledge on relevant topics of interest could be exchanged and provide a platform for cross learning opportunities to enrich organizational development as well as personal development.
- Dialogues & forums where new ideas can be initiated and turn into projects to benefit the community at large and lead to potential collaboration between like-minded organizations.
2009: 10th Year of the CCG Platform
2009 is a momentous year for the Corporate Community Games platform.
The theme "Celebrate Community" was chosen to reflect the corporate community getting together to celebrate ten years of companies coming together; recognize each company's effort in community building; and step forward as a corporate community and extend ourselves to our society.
Apart from Sports and Arts Programmes to be organized over 3 weekends starting from 10 October 2009, the year shall also be marked by a new initiative on 31 October: Corporate Community Day. This day shall bring together companies, government organizations, NGOs and the larger community to create greater social consciousness as we examine the roles we play in the community, by sharing philosophy and practices, as well as participating in activities that enhance community wellbeing.
Programmes for Corporate Community Day shall include:
Active Citizenship Exhibition
An opportunity for different organizations – including government bodies, NGOs, NPOs and corporations to collectively explore the concept of “Active Citizenship” through their engagement in society through various initiatives.
Some of the topics would include:
1. Concept of Community & Active Citizenship
2. CSR initiatives
3. Corporate Philanthropy
4. Addressing Global Challenges
5. Local Community Involvement
Organizations would also be able to garner support from visitors at the Exhibition for their ongoing campaigns, fundraising activities, volunteer programmes and drives for meaningful causes.
CEO Seminar
An opportunity for CEOs from different companies and representatives from different organizations to share their insights; the topics would centre on Leadership and Cultivating Community.
30Man31Leg Challenge
A teambuilding challenge for corporations to complete a 50m race as a team of 30 men tied together in 3-legged format. This programme is also a demonstration of spiritedness of the people in the corporate community.
Community Café
A café where we enjoy exchange of ideas and thoughts as a corporate community through informal conversations and friendly dialogues.
Global Initiatives Fair
The Fair creates an opportunity for our local community to learn more about meaningful initiatives and social innovation from other parts of the world and bring useful ideas back into our lives.
Initiator of the Platform
East West Cultural Development Centre (EWCDC) - A non-profit organization set up in 1995, to do research on Cultural Evolution and particularly the concept of Modernity. It takes on a three-prong approach in its activities and programmes under the initiatives of Research, Education and Corporate. Since 1995, the centre has been conducting research and round-table discussions on relevant topics and had organized educational and cultural programmes for schools under its Research and Education Initiatives.
Under its Corporate Initiative, EWCDC hopes to provide a meeting place for corporations to come together to think about their role in the community at large as well as their interests as a ‘business’ community in itself. As work becomes an integral part of life and businesses shape everyday lives, there was a need for corporations to look at how they actually do and could shape a whole new culture, a whole new modernity. Through Corporate Community Games, EWCDC hopes to provide this platform to bridge the disparity between corporations of different industries and provide an avenue for non-business specific interaction where corporations can find meaning in internal and external bonding.
Appointed Organizer
Ministry of Culture Pte Ltd - Set up in Singapore in May 2005, Ministry of Culture Pte Ltd plays the role of catalyst to help businesses that are concerned about their role in society to be active in reaching out to their own people and counterparts in an interdependent world. Its core business lies in cultivating and organizing events and building platforms which enhance corporations and communities. The organization works with individual likeminded corporations and organizations to develop and design events that create meaning and add value to their communities of stakeholders including employees, suppliers, clients and more.
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