President Tharman plays basketball & takes selfies with children during state visit to Sweden

President Tharman gives basketball a try during state visit to Sweden, also met Singaporean students in university

Singapore’s President Tharman Shanmugaratnam paid a state visit to Sweden recently.

Aside from the usual meetings, he also shot some basketball hoops and took selfies with the local children.

Tharman shoots hoops during visit to Sweden youth organisation

The President’s visit took place over five days, from 17 Oct to 21 Oct.

On 25 Oct, Mr Tharman posted on Facebook thanking Sweden for the warm welcome.

The discussions he had while there included those in the social fields, and so on 20 Oct, the President paid a visit to Fryshuset, a Swedish non-profit youth organisation.

He was accompanied by his wife, Jane Ittogi, as well as Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia.

While there, he stopped by the youth basketball practice to speak with the team.

Then, President Tharman decided to give basketball a shot too.

Dribbling the basketball several times, he aimed and threw it at the hoop. Unfortunately, the video cut without showing if he scored or missed.

Met Singaporean professor and students in Swedish university

Mr Tharman also visited Sweden’s train network. He and Ms Ittogi joined several children in their selfies.

Apart from the social commitments, Mr Tharman took a trip to the birthplace of nuclear research in Sweden to discuss sustainable energy systems.

Furthermore, he went to Spotify headquarters for a panel on artificial intelligence (AI) and delivered a lecture at the Stockholm School of Economics.

During a visit to Chalmers University, Mr Tharman met Singaporean professor Jia Wei Chew and other Singaporean students studying there.

Tharman witnesses signing of Joint Declaration between Sweden and Singapore

On 19 Oct, he witnessed the signing of the Joint Declaration on Strategic Cooperation on Trusted and Innovative Technologies.

The Joint Declaration aims to strengthen cooperation between Sweden and Singapore on emerging technologies.

Potential areas of cooperation include:

• Technology and supply chains, including digital infrastructure and semiconductors
• Cyber security and connectivity
• Trustworthy AI deployment and governance
• International rules and regulations for emerging technologies

Towards the end of the trip, Mr Tharman and his delegation enjoyed a performance by the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra.

Also read: President Tharman & wife explain favourite mooncakes during Mid-Autumn Festival, praise traditional Teochew version

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Featured image adapted from Clément Morin via @fryshusetglobal on Instagram and Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Facebook.