Ensuring a safe SEA Games in 2015 for all

Question

Mr Nicholas Fang: To ask the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth if he will provide updates on the contingency plans being developed to minimise the impact of transboundary haze on the South-east Asian Games in 2015.

Response

Minister Lawrence Wong: Transboundary haze has been an issue during the dry period between June and October. We will do whatever we can to engage our neighbours and manage the issue upstream, through various regional forums as well as the SEA Games Federation, so that the Games can proceed smoothly. We will also have contingency plans in place to mitigate the effects of the haze on athlete preparation and the organisation of the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

Drawing on lessons learnt dealing with the haze in recent years, we will work closely with the National Sports Associations (NSAs) to ensure that Team Singapore athletes can continue to train safely in the event the haze returns in the run up to the SEA Games. This includes arranging for indoor training where possible when the haze situation worsens.

The Singapore SEA Games Organising Committee (SINGSOC) is making plans to mitigate the impact of the haze on the organisation of the Games itself. For example, SINGSOC will build in buffers in the competition schedule to allow for the postponement of events if necessary.

SINGSOC is also developing a framework to determine whether or not to proceed with events at differing levels of air quality. The framework will take reference from the air quality descriptor and public health advisories issued by the National Environment Agency, and will be overseen by a committee comprising representatives from the International and Asian Sports Federations, as well as experts in various fields, such as medical, communications and security.

Based on this framework, we will postpone events or move them indoors, as and when the need arises. But not all sports can be played indoors and there are limits to how much we can adjust the competition schedule. So if the bad air quality persists, then we may have no choice but to shorten or cancel certain events.

In conclusion, I would like to assure the member that we will spare no effort to ensure a safe Games for all athletes, officials, supporters, volunteers and spectators.