Ensuring that training can continue without compromising health and safety

Question

Mr Nicholas Fang: To ask the Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth what are the measures in place to help Singapore athletes cope with the impact of haze on their training and competition, especially with the 2015 Southeast Asian Games scheduled to take place in June, which is typically when transboundary haze affects the region.

Response

Acting Minister Lawrence Wong: We recognise the disruptions that the haze would bring to the training of our athletes. My ministry and the Singapore Sports Council will therefore continue to work closely with our National Sports Associations and event organisers to mitigate any impact. The goal is to ensure that training can continue without compromising health and safety. A recent example is the Lions XII team – their training sessions were switched from the Jalan Besar stadium to an indoor futsal facility and gym when the haze was at its worst in Singapore. Similarly, the Volleyball Association of Singapore used the air-conditioning at Toa Payoh Sports Hall during the national team's training sessions.

For the 2015 SEA Games, which will be held here from 5 to 16 June, the SEA Games Organising Committee is working out contingency plans to deal with any haze-related situations. The numerous learning points on managing the haze situation from the past few weeks will be taken in and applied. I should clarify that transboundary haze is an issue during the dry period between June to October, and not just an occurrence that “typically” happens in June. As mentioned by member, we cannot predict or say for certain what will happen in 2015. But we will certainly do whatever we can to engage our neighbours and manage the issue upstream, through various regional forums which have been highlighted by the Environment and Foreign Affairs ministers, as well as the SEA Games Federation, so that the SEA Games 2015 can proceed smoothly.