Consider televising sports events at Community Centres to foster community bonds

Question

Er Lee Bee Wah: To ask the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth in light of the positive response to the recent World Cup screenings at the Community Centres (CCs) (a) whether the Ministry will consider televising live broadcasts of popular international sports events at the CCs; and (b) whether the Ministry will consider televising the upcoming UEFA Champions League matches at the CCs.

Response

Minister Lim Swee Say, Minister (Prime Minister’s Office) and Deputy Chairman of People’s Association: The People’s Association (PA), in partnership with the Singapore Pools and SingTel, successfully held the live screening of the 2014 FIFA World Cup matches at 58 Community Clubs (CCs) for residents to catch the exhilarating football action with their families, friends and neighbours. There was overwhelming response, with more than 570,000 resident counts, and much positive feedback. Besides watching the World Cup, our grassroots leaders and PA staff took the opportunity to organise fun-filled fringe activities for the residents to get to know one another better. Strong community spirit was evident during the screening. It was common to see residents of different ages and races cheering for their teams, neighbours arranging to come together and many voluntarily helping to clean up the premises and stack the chairs after the screening. Indeed, the success of the World Cup screening demonstrates the potential of using sports to bond our people.

Er Lee asked whether we would consider televising live broadcasts of popular international sports events such as the upcoming UEFA Champions League matches at the CCs in the future. There are costs involved and it would depend on whether there is broad base demand from the residents and sponsorship available to support such screenings. Individual CCs might also fund the screenings themselves.