Private sport academies run by former national athletes

1461. Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik: To ask the Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (a) whether the Ministry has information on the number of private sports academies currently run by former national athletes; (b) whether SportSG has a framework for partnering with these academies to identify and develop young sporting talent for national representation; and (c) what support is available to retired national athletes who wish to contribute to youth sports development through their own academies.

Response:

1. We encourage former national athletes to contribute back to the sport ecosystem and groom the next generation of athletes. There are many ways to do so – from serving as coaches, sport administrators, sport scientists and doctors, to managing sports academies.

2. MCCY and SportSG do not track the number of private sport academies run by former national athletes. Private academies form part of the larger sporting ecosystem – including schools, grassroots, ActiveSG Academies and Clubs, National Sport Associations (NSAs) and private sport academies operated by individuals and businesses. Collectively, they contribute to increased community participation and talent pipeline and pathway towards our national teams. 

3. SportSG works with NSAs, private academies and clubs to expand opportunities for children and youth in our communities to play and compete. For example, under the Associate Partner Scheme (APS), SportSG engages qualified private academies to conduct quality and affordable programmes at ActiveSG and MOE schools’ Dual-Use Scheme (DUS) facilities.

4. For both active and retired athletes who are interested in setting up private academies and clubs, Sport Excellence Singapore (SpexSG) has programmes to support their ambitions.

   1. Athlete life management consultations help athletes better understand the support they need, and where to get them, to prepare themselves for post-sporting careers.

   2. The spexEntrepreneurship programme – a collaboration with ACE (Action Community for Entrepreneurship) – provides mentorship opportunities, access to essential resources and networking opportunities with entrepreneurial individuals and communities.

   3. Athletes can also tap on the spexBusiness Network’s partners to seek entrepreneurship advice and practical assistance to set up their businesses.