Second Reading of the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) Amendment Bill

1. Mr Speaker, I thank Honourable Members for their support of the Bill, as well as their comments and suggestions.

(I) Better Support for our TeamSG Athletes

2. Several Members in the House spoke about how we can support our athletes better, during and after their careers.

   1. Mr Alex Yam, Ms Gho Sze Kee, Mr Yip Hon Weng and Ms Joan Pereira spoke about support for athletes’ transition to life after sport.

   2. Our athletes have similar aspirations to many Singaporeans – they want to pursue higher educational qualifications, start and grow their careers, and work towards financial stability. 

3. And we agree with members that we should support them to pursue these aspirations. Let me cite a few recent enhancements.

   1. First, support for education. We launched the spexEducation Undergraduate Scholarships and we awarded them to our inaugural batch last year.

      1. Ms Valerie Lee asked about the selection criteria.

      2. We focus our resources on supporting our full-time spexScholars who are best able to benefit from this scholarship, including the daily training environment that their institute of higher learning provides if they are studying and competing at the same time.

      3. Or if they intend to study only after they retire from competitive sports – then we consider the course that they are pursuing and the potential future contributions to the sports sector.

      4. One such example is Jessica Tan, our mixed doubles badminton Olympian, and 2022 Commonwealth champion. After a very successful career, Jessica retired last year and she is now pursuing a degree in sport management and coaching. After her graduation, she will return back to contribute to our sports sector.

   2. Second, support for career transitions. Through our spexBusiness initiative, we partner a network of supportive companies from diverse industries to provide athletes with career support, flexible workplace practices and development opportunities for their career after sport. 

   3. Third, support for finances. We regularly review and have recently increased our spexScholars’ monthly stipends. On top of that, they now receive CPF top-ups, bolstering their finances to better meet their housing, medical and retirement needs.

4. Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked about support for former national athletes, including healthcare.

   1. We support our athletes’ transition into retirement from their competitive sporting careers by helping them find good employment. Active and retired athletes can also tap on various programmes including spexBusiness and spexEducation, which I mentioned, and we have recently enhanced.

   2. In addition, there are also national schemes to support healthcare and other needs of Singaporeans. For instance, our public healthcare financing system, the S+3Ms – namely subsidies, MediShield Life, MediSave and MediFund – helps keep healthcare affordable for all Singaporeans.

5. Dr Charlene Chen spoke about supporting our athletes’ mental well-being.

   1. The High Performance Sport Institute (HPSI) proactively monitors our athletes’ mental health and provides them with support throughout their sporting career.

   2. With a dedicated Athlete Life Management team, HPSI equips our athletes for life, helping them develop the skills and mental resilience needed to deal with life’s challenges, including after retirement from sport.

6. And we will do more. We are deepening our capabilities in sports science and sports medicine, as well as athlete life management,

   1. So that we support our athletes holistically – for both their sporting and non-sporting needs and across their life stages.

7. And that is why we are also amending this Bill to allow us to organise ourselves better to serve our athletes, bringing together and streamlining expertise through consolidating the HPSI and Singapore Sports School (SSP) into a single entity.

   1. Through this entity, we will strengthen our partnerships with key stakeholders in the High Performance Sport (HPS) ecosystem,

   2. Bringing together different specialists in their fields – e.g. coaches, psychologists, athlete-life managers, sport administrators – in a clear, comprehensive way to provide wrap-around support for our athletes, helping them stay in competitive sports for as long as they can.

   3. I agree with Dr Kenneth Goh and Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim on the benefits of integration, and their support for us to bring the SSP to Kallang and integrate all elements of the HPS ecosystem under one roof in the new home of Team Singapore.

   4. To Ms Elysa Chan’s question on accountability, I would like to assure the Member that the entity will still be funded by the Government and be accountable to MCCY and Parliament.

8. I thank Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik for his question.

   1. With the consolidation, the SSP remains a Specialised Independent School and will continue receiving support from both MOE and MCCY.

   2. SSP will continue to provide education to national and aspiring athletes. Besides serving the academic needs of student-athletes, SSP will expand its role to provide career guidance support to other national athletes.

9. The excellent track record of our Team Singapore athletes gives us confidence that our sporting ecosystem is developing in the right direction. Let me cite some examples.

   1. At the recent SEA Games, our Singapore Sports School (SSP) students and alumni accounted for almost half our total Gold Medal tally.

   2. Shuttler and SSP alumnus Loh Kean Yew became Singapore’s first-ever badminton world champion at the 2021 BWF World Championships.

   3. Our most decorated Paralympian Yip Pin Xiu is a seven-time Paralympic gold medallist and eight-time World Champion, with two world records to her name.

   4. Our kite foiling sensation Max Maeder is a double world champion, and won Bronze at his Olympic debut in Paris 2024. His other accolades include winning Gold thrice at the Trofeo Princesa Sofia Regatta, two Golds and a Silver at the Formula Kite World Championships and an Asian Games Gold at Hangzhou 2022.

   5. Amanda Yap become Singapore’s first-ever gymnast to reach a World Championships Final, and placed sixth at the 2025 Artistic Gymnastics World Championship.

   6. In bowling, Sports School alumni Darren Ong made history as the first male Singaporean bowler to claim the Men’s Singles title at the 2023 IBF World Championships since 2006. And at the same championships, sisters Cherie and Daphne Tan shared a special moment winning the women’s doubles gold medal.

   7. In silat, we have Sheik Farhan Sheik Alau’ddin, our five-time world champion who secured multiple world titles at events such as the World Pencak Silat Championships.

   8. In wushu, SSP student-athlete Zeanne Law was crowned World Champion twice in Women’s Taijiquan in 2023 and 2024. At the 2023 World Wushu Championships, SSP alumnus Jowen Lim won his first world championship title in gun shu.

   9. I cite all these achievements because I do not want us to be mistaken that we think the system is working well just because we had a record medal haul in the SEA Games. The system is working well because our athletes have done us proud at all the different world-level competitions.

10. We all have a part to play in growing sports excellence in Singapore. As a small nation with a small talent base, we are competing with nations who are multiple times larger than us, and with budgets that are significant and increasing.

11. Our approach has always been one to partner with all stakeholders and to complement each others’ strengths, as Dr Kenneth Goh pointed out, so that we can maximise our investments.

12. The amendment to Section 8(d) of the Act reflects this, where we are shifting from consultation, to working in partnership with stakeholders to bring about better outcomes.

    1. National Sport Associations (NSAs) play an important role in promoting and uplifting their respective sports, and many NSAs have done good work with their grassroots and through their developmental programme.

    2. The consolidation of HPSI and SSP into a single entity will also deepen our partnerships with NSAs, and provide synergistic and holistic support to our athletes. 

(II) Coaching and Facilities as a Key Enabler for a Thriving Sports Ecosystem

13. Coaches play a pivotal role in shaping both athletic performance and the broader sporting environment.

14. Ms Joan Pereira made several sound suggestions on recruiting and developing coaches.

    1. MCCY and SportSG continually review our coach education and development programmes under CoachSG, 

       1. With a view to building a deep and sustainable pipeline of coaching talents to support our athletes to achieve our HPS ambition, 

       2. As well as provide clear development and progression pathways - from grassroots to high performance coaches for elite athletes. 

       3. This is in line with our tiered coaching pathways as guided by a competency framework.

       4. Through initiatives such as the Coach Development Grant, our coaches also receive subsidies in course fees to pursue specialised training including to develop suitable skills and expertise to help our aging citizens stay physically active and healthy.  

15. Various members also spoke about the importance of having good access to sports facilities and the challenges that some residents face in booking public courts.

    1. Today, through the Sport Facilities Masterplan, Singaporeans can access public sports facilities near to where they live. And we will continue to improve this.

    2. We provide a mix of larger sport centres in towns and smaller facilities in our neighbourhoods for easy access, particularly for seniors and young families.

    3. The roughly 50% increase in number of Singaporeans who participate in sport and fitness activities weekly over the past decade simply means it will be a little bit harder for our residents to book courts at the time and place that they want. We understand this and we plan to increase the provision of courts. We will share more details when ready.

    4. Given the scarcity of land in Singapore, we have been innovative by activating underutilised spaces.

       1. For example, the CTE viaduct space in Jalan Bukit Merah has been transformed into a touch tennis court, while the space under Gali Batu Flyover will be used for futsal, pickleball courts, and a fitness corner.

       2. Rooftops of multi storey carparks are also being repurposed as recreational spaces, such as the upcoming facility in Dover Crescent.

       3. We will also continue to explore and partner others to open up more spaces for play, and tapping on existing collaborations like the Dual-Use Scheme with schools.

16. I agree with Ms Valerie Lee that our sports facilities should serve the needs of a broad range of entities, in addition to our national sports associations.

    1. For example, our ActiveSG facilities and facilities at The Kallang are used by community sports groups, grassroots organisations, schools and corporates to host events and activities such as the National School Games, sport days, community carnivals, festivals, sport competitions and charity events like Football with a Heart.

17. Ms Joan Pereira and Mr Yip Hon Weng suggested having a code of practice for sports facilities in HDB estates.

    1. Well, our approach is not to be overly prescriptive and allow flexibility to accommodate residents’ preferences, given that each precinct in Singapore is a little bit different. At the same time, SportSG will work with relevant stakeholders including the NSAs and where possible, consider other solutions in terms of facility design or choice of equipment.

18. We will work within our land constraints and will continue to find innovative ways of providing public access to a diverse mix of sports. 

    1. Ms Joan Pereira asked about whether there will be a new ice rink.

    2. SportSG and other agencies have been working closely with the ice sport NSAs on this matter. The Singapore Ice Skating Association (SISA) has since launched a request for a proposal to develop and operate an ice rink and is reviewing the proposals received.

    3. In the same spirit, we will continue to partner with respective NSAs to support our athletes' short and long-term training needs. 

(III) Sport for All

19. I am glad to hear Members’ support for recognising a more diverse group of sports.

    1. Recognition can help them increase membership, develop talent and secure funding or sponsorship.

    2. Some of these newer sports will also catalyse the supporting industries. For example, in the area of e-sports, create more demand for software developers and graphic designers.

    3. I would like to assure Members that our intent is not to be overly prescriptive about what constitutes or not constitute a mind sport or e-sport.

    4. Instead, our focus is on supporting the diverse interests of Singaporeans, so that we can promote and develop sports in Singapore and as Ms Poh Li San said – to uplift and bond our nation through sports.

    5. We welcome suggestions to make this clearer to interested stakeholders and will continue to engage the sector closely. And to Mr David Hoe, I have to say that for something to be considered a mind sport for support, it needs to be affiliated to a National Sport Association who is, in turn affiliated to an International Federation. So, I don’t think Toto will make the list anytime soon.

    6. I would also like to assure Mr Fadli Fawzi that SportSG will continue to work with commercial entities to support a more vibrant and diverse sporting ecosystem

       1. For example, SportSG partnered with close to 20 commercial partners for last year’s Singapore Urban Sports and Fitness Festival, and over 50 commercial partners for the inaugural Olympic Esports Week in 2023.

20. The recognition of more sports also offers us an opportunity to engage various segments of the population in different ways as Ms Joan Pereira has pointed out.

    1. Seniors can be engaged through mind sports to keep them mentally and socially active, which will complement today’s physical activity programmes offered by government agencies and community partners.

    2. Indeed, as Mr Yip Hon Weng and Mr David Hoe pointed out too, there is an opportunity to engage youths through e-sports, given its popularity.

    3. I agree with Dr Charlene Chen, Mr Yip Hon Weng, and Mr David Hoe that we should do so while addressing all the possible risks, such as potential issues with regard to gaming addiction.

    4. We will work with industry and community partners such as the Singapore Cybersports & Online Gaming Association and the Singapore Esports Association, as well as government agencies like MOE and MOH to do so.

21. I thank Members for understanding that an expanded definition of sport does not mean that we will support all sports equally given the need for us to use public funds wisely. 

    1. I agree with Ms Valerie Lee, Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim, Mr David Hoe and Dr Hamid Razak that the development of new sports, including e-sports should complement rather than crowd out existing sporting pathways, especially those that promote physical activity and broad-based participation.

    2. As Dr Charlene Chen pointed out, one such pathway is the Direct School Admission (DSA). MOE schools have the autonomy to offer programmes that suit their students' needs and interests.  

    3. MOE prioritises physical sports in the National School Games (NSG) as movement and regular physical activity are fundamental to students' holistic development and health. For other types of sports, there are competition platforms organised by various organisations for students to represent their schools.

22. Members including Mr Alex Yam, Mr Lee Hong Chuang, Dr Kenneth Goh, Mr David Hoe, Ms Elysa Chan also talked about our funding principles.

    1. Broadly, we calibrate the level of support for sports based on their specific needs, governance standards and contribution to our national sporting objectives, which includes the ability of the sport and its competition to inspire the Singapore spirit.

    2. We regularly review our support for sports and will continue to engage with the NSAs and partners like SNOC and SNPC so that we can collectively move in the same direction to uplift Singapore sports.  

23. Mr Yip Hon Weng, Mr Lee Hong Chuang, and Mr Fadli Fawzi asked how we would ensure fiscal sustainability. Within our land, manpower and funding constraints, we have found ways to support non-traditional sports,

    1. Whether through support for athletes, such as the Athletes’ Inspire Fund (AIF) which defrays the costs for athletes in emerging sports participating in regional competitions;

    2. Or working with NSAs to strengthen governance, obtain Charity status and gain access to donations and matching grants to grow their sports, such as through the One Team Singapore Fund (OTSF);

    3. Or providing event and facility support, such as to host events like the 2023 World Youth Tchoukball Championship in Singapore.

    4. To complement Government funding, we encourage corporates to come forward to support our TeamSG athletes. We have seen some good examples, including Yeo Hiap Seng (Yeo’s) sponsorship to Max Maeder in 2022 to support his journey towards the 2024 Paris Olympics, and subsequent extension of their sponsorship deal by another four years from 2025 to 2028.

Removing barriers to access sports

24. And we will make sport more accessible and inclusive for everyone.

25. I would like to thank Mr Alex Yam, Dr Kenneth Goh, Ms Valerie Lee, Mr Yip Hon Weng and Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim who have spoken up on the importance of disability sport as a driver for inclusivity.

26. And that is why we refreshed the Disability Sports Master Plan (DSMP) in 2024 to raise sport participation for persons with disabilities, focusing on three key strategic themes:

    1. First, increase accessibility to disability sports programmes and activities,

    2. Second, enhance awareness of disability sports and inclusive sports activities, and

    3. Third, fulfil aspirations of persons with disabilities who desire and have the potential to do sports at the high performance level.

27. One of the strategic moves in the DSMP is to enhance the competencies of coaches in disability sports.

    1. We target to more than double the number of registered coaches under National Registry of Coaches (NROC) who can coach persons with disabilities, from 120 to 300 by 2030.

    2. This will complement other moves to increase the number of regular participants in disability sports programmes from 3,200 today to about 5,400 by 2030.

    3. We will work with various partners like schools, sports associations and community partners to implement the various strategic moves as laid out in the DSMP.

28. Ms Gho Sze Kee suggested the merging of the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) and the Singapore National Paralympic Council (SNPC).  

    1. Both councils are independent, and they have their respective missions of developing and promoting the Olympic and Paralympic movements respectively, and amongst others, preparing our athletes for the major games.

    2. I am sure they will take to heart the suggestion. There will be benefits with the current arrangement, and there will be other possible benefits with a merger. And it comes down to which structure will allow them to meet their mandate and mission better, and which structure serves Singapore and Team Singapore better.

    3. Both councils have done great work in uplifting sports and athletes in their sectors and MCCY and SportSG will continue working closely with them.

29. I would also like to thank Ms Poh Li San, Dr Hamid Razak, and Dr Charlene Chen for their suggestions on ensuring a wider representation of professionals or experts in sports education, disability sports, sports psychology, sports tourism, community sports and senior sports on the Board of SportSG.

    1. This is in line with our plans to diversify SportSG Board’s expertise to enable it to lead the sport sector well.

    2. The maximum number of 25 members on the Board gives us the scope to bring on board more diverse expertise and perspectives, and is in line with the size of other Statutory Boards. This is a maximum number, it is not a target, and we will continue to ensure that the Board runs effectively and efficiently.

30. Our society is aging rapidly. It is imperative that we work together to keep our seniors active and healthy through sports and physical fitness activities. Members Mr Alex Yam, Dr Charlene Chen and Mr David Hoe as well as Ms Joan Pereira have raised this.

    1. One key initiative is the Frailty Prevention Programme (FPP) that we have been progressively introducing to our Active Ageing Centres. There are two key components to the FPP.

    2. First, the CALM programme, which is an 8-week programme targeted at seniors to help them understand muscle health through assessment, guided strength training, and health coaching.

       1. Since September 2024, over 1,200 seniors from 54 AACs have completed the programme.

       2. After going through CALM, almost all seniors reported an improvement in at least 1 of 5 measurements, with 85% of them improving in at least 3 of these measurements.

       3. We will continue to run more runs of CALM and consider expanding them to the Residents Network (RNs) should there be interest.

    3. Second, introducing adaptive sports to seniors in AACs. This allows them to continue to reap the benefit of sport, while calibrating the level of physical exertion.

       1. This culminated in the inaugural Seniors National Games last year, where 4,500 seniors representing 110 AACs competed across five adaptive sports.

31. Some Members asked about helping children and youth from disadvantaged backgrounds access sports.

    1. Sport can provide a safe and structured environment for them to build confidence, resilience and a stronger connection to friends and society.

    2. SportSG provides a SportCares Bursary for children and youth from low-income families to participate in ActiveSG Academies and Clubs.

    3. We will continue to work closely with stakeholders and community partners to identify suitable children and youth for our initiatives and ensure that more can benefit.

32. SportSG will also continue to design and administer grants and programmes that can benefit different segments of the population, to strengthen our sporting ecosystem or increase access to sport.

    1. For example, the Communities of Care (COC) Grant. This has played a vital role in supporting smaller organisations like Amplify, enabling them to create meaningful change in the lives of vulnerable communities.

       1. Through their functional fitness program, Amplify empowers youths at risk, seniors, and persons with disabilities by promoting holistic wellness and fostering a sense of community.

       2. Beneficiaries develop physical strength, resilience, and leadership skills, while gaining valuable industry knowledge for future employment opportunities.

(IV) Calibrated Approach towards Regulation and Uplifting of Standards in Sport Sector

33. We are also working to ensure that our people engage in physical fitness activities safely.

    1. I am encouraged by the Members’ support towards SportSG’s calibrated approach.

    2. As Mr Alex Yam, Dr Hamid Razak, Mr Yip Hon Weng, Mr Lee Hong Chuang and Dr Charlene Chen pointed out, over-regulation would deter small groups or grassroots groups.

34. Our current focus is to ensure baseline standards and eventually uplift the sector.

    1. For example, Registered Exercise Professionals under the National Registry of Exercise Professionals (NREP) hold relevant fitness or exercise certifications and are also certified in Standard First Aid.

       1. These are not intended to be onerous but are simple and essential requirements for a more developed industry for Singaporeans’ benefit.

       2. We will continue to review our approach and engage the sector.

35. Mr Fadli Fawzi asked about a potential conflict of interest in SportSG’s expanded function to manufacture and supply sport and physical fitness equipment, as well as to set standards for such equipment in Clause 6(m) and 6(l) of the Bill.

    1. To clarify, SportSG typically does not manufacture sports or physical fitness equipment for sale. Items provided are usually meant to be a service to Singaporeans, such as gym towels or water-bottles for children.

    2. SportSG also periodically provides sport-related items such as sport-resistance bands or TeamSG premiums, as part of its role to promote an active lifestyle or to strengthen public support for Team Singapore athletes.

36. Ms Elysa Chen asked about the accountability of standards set and approvals given.

    1. The criteria for being registered on the NROC and NREP and the names of coaches and exercise professionals is listed on the respective registries and publicly available. 

    2. The requirements for accreditation are also objective, such as first aid certification. SportSG will continue to be objective and transparent as it seeks to uplift industry standards in partnership with our stakeholders.

Conclusion

37. Mr Speaker, Sir, we have achieved much progress in developing a vibrant sports culture in Singapore over the last five decades.

    1. We have significantly raised sports participation for Singaporeans from all walks of life – from one in two just a decade ago, to three in four today.

    2. We have made a significant leap in our regional performance, returning from the recent SEA Games in Bangkok with a record haul of medals.

38. We are on the right track to scale the next bound of sports in Singapore.

    1. First, we are making “hardware” investments in Kallang to integrate the SSP with our HPSI and build a new home for Team Singapore.

    2. Second, we are transforming our “software” to support our youth and senior athletes holistically with deeper investments in sports science and sports medicine and stronger partnerships with our NSAs.

    3. Third, we have set out a masterplan and we are running programmes and initiatives to be more inclusive through sport by empowering persons with disabilities, outreaching to vulnerable youths and supporting students of all abilities to provide good access to sports in school, and to nurture a love for sport from young.

    4. Last but not least, we are setting standards to ensure our people engage in physical activities safely, so that Singaporeans can lead active and healthy lifestyles.

39. I thank all Members for supporting this Bill.

40. At this juncture, I also want to thank Mr Yip Hon Weng, Mr Lim Hong Chuang, Ms Poh Li San, and Dr Kenneth Goh for reminding us that sport at any level is not just about winning and doing well. It is also about inculcating values, building character, and giving ourselves a sense of who we are as a nation.

41. It is about how we respond when our team needs us. Dr Kenneth Goh gave us examples of Josh Chua, Koen Pang, Isaac Quek and Victoria Lim putting the team before self, nation before self. And there were many more examples that we witnessed at the many sporting events, in our schools and communities as well.

42. It is about how we respond in defeat. While we had a record medal haul at this SEA Games, we had our share of disappointments as well. Our netball team, who are Asian champions, suffered an agonising three point loss in the finals. But that is sport. There will be good days, and there will be bad days. What matters is we always come back, stronger.

43. And that is how our support for our athletes should be. We support them when they are doing well, and we support them even more if they are not doing well.

44. And that is how sports bonds and uplifts us as a nation. Not because we win all the time, but because we know how difficult it is to win, and we always come back. Stronger.

45. Sir, the impact of this Bill will depend on what we do from here.

    1. From providing more support for our athletes beyond sports, participating actively in our line-up of programmes, stepping forward to contribute to a more vibrant and inclusive sporting ecosystem, there is a role for everyone.

    2. There is much to look forward to for Singapore’s sports!

    3. We will continue to work closely with all stakeholders to implement this Bill effectively, and ensure that our national sport ecosystem remains inclusive, dynamic and future-ready.

46. Mr Speaker Sir, I beg to move.