Hosting of International Para Sports Events

217. Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim: To ask the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (a) what infrastructure developments are in place to promote and support Singapore’s hosting of international para-community sports events; and (b) what legacy plans are in place to promote para-community inclusivity, local youth engagement, and broader accessibility improvements post-event.

Response:

1. Sport Singapore works closely with partners to ensure that competition venues are accessible and meet international standards for international competitions that cater to athletes of all abilities.

2. For instance, the World Para Swimming Championships 2025 is hosted at the OCBC Aquatic Centre. The OCBC Aquatic Centre has universal design features that cater to diverse needs of athletes and spectators. This includes step-free access for para-athletes at the competition venue, and dedicated wheelchair bays with lift and ramp access for spectators. Where appropriate, Sport Singapore will also work with event organisers and stakeholders on additional requirements to ensure that the venue is accessible for all participants and spectators.

3. The Disability Sports Master Plan (DSMP) was recently refreshed in 2024 and seeks to increase accessibility to disability sports activities and programmes, enhance awareness of disability sports and inclusive sports activities, and fulfil aspirations of persons with disabilities who desire and have the potential to do sports at high performance level.

4. The DSMP includes the launch of the Enabling Sports Fund (ESF) which provides funding support for programmes and activities that enable more persons with disabilities to participate in sport.

5. All mainstream schools will aim to conduct programmes for students to experience disability sports by 2028 to build understanding and empathy of challenges faced by persons with disabilities when doing sports.

6. Sport Singapore has also steadily enhanced accessibility in their facilities over the years, to encourage more persons with disabilities to use them. For example, the number of public swimming pools retrofitted with wheelchair-accessible ramps will increase from 6 in 2023 to 10 by end-2025. We also remain on track to make all ActiveSG gyms inclusive by 2026.