Mark Chay
Singapore
“Thank you, Mdm Deputy Speaker. I recognise the hon Member's comments and I recognise that there was a fancy chart with GDP, but we cannot look at athlete performance juxtaposed to GDP alone. There are many different factors and, if you ask me, high performance takes time.”
“Yes, the Leader of the Opposition. Regarding our silat athletes and swimmers, I just want to clarify that for the silat athlete, whether he is aware that the drink-driving incident actually happened on 27 November 2022 and the silat competition at the SEA Games actually happened on 18 May 2023.”
“I would like to thank the hon Member for his comments. Yes, I do think that there is room for improvement and there is definitely no perfect system. I am paraphrasing from yesterday.”
“I thank Mr Leon Perera for his comments in his speech. I have just one clarification on the support for athletes who are not in popular sports. He cited bowling as well as billiards, with Peter Gilchrist, Aloysius Yapp, Shayna Ng as well as Cherie Tan. They are all spexScholarship holders.”
“Thank you, Mdm Deputy Speaker. I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question and clarifications. Again, I think sports is a continuing journey. I do not speak on behalf of SNOC, but I think the door is not closed. Again, these are decisions made by SNOC and not by myself.”
“Yes, of course. When it comes to sports, you cannot just look at the socio-economic background of a country specifically. You have to look at it as a whole. I think that is the question that I had for Assoc Prof Jamus Lim, whether he considered it as a whole, not just looking at our economic status in the region.”
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“Mr Speaker, like many Members of Parliament, I am deeply troubled by the conflict in Ukraine. I echo Minister Vivian Balakrishnan’s sentiments that Singapore cannot accept the unjustified attack by one country on another. This was a clear violation of the Olympic Truce. Mr Speaker, I was on calls last night with, first, the Ukrainian Esports Federation and, second, the IOC Athletes Commission. Hearing the Ukrainian athletes and what Ukraine is going through is truly heartbreaking. The sporting world is aligned with the Minister’s position that the sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity of countries, big and small, must be respected. Sports will continue to stand for values. Sports will continue to stand for peace. My thoughts and prayers are with the citizens of Ukraine today. I now turn to speak on the Budget. I rise in support of this today and I consider that the Budget is a sensible one that balances the long- and short-term needs of the country. It also focuses on national development in a sustainable manner that addresses the challenges posed by climate change. As some of you know, yesterday was Founders’ Day and as our motto goes, “The best is yet to be”. So, today, in keeping with this motto, I shall raise three issues which I believe can bring our society to new heights. One, how do we, as a society, manage the rising cost of living? Two, how do we ensure a safe and sensible reopening of Singapore? And, three, as we look forward into the future, how do we create a better and more conducive space for the development of the sports in Singapore? I speak, first, about managing the rising cost of living in Singapore.”
“Mr Kee could not see me compete in Sydney, nor was he able to realise his own individual Olympic ambitions because of World War II. When we trained, Mr Kee told me that it is a privilege to go to the Olympics and if I were given an opportunity, I should not take being an Olympian for granted. He would say that "It’s hard to ascend Mount Olympus, but it is even harder to stay at its peak." As Olympians and Paralympians, we have been given this privilege and opportunity. We have gained knowledge and experienced what it is like to be amongst the world's best. Your journey as Olympians and Paralympians does not stop here, so keep going, keep pushing, keep defying the odds and proving what is possible with hard work and dedication! Mr Speaker, for all of us here in Parliament today, we know with great opportunities we are offered, comes certain great responsibilities. I would like to encourage each and every one of you to continue your journey in sports and contribute your knowledge, experience and time to the ecosystem in Singapore. "Once an Olympian, always an Olympian. In service to Olympians and in service to society". If we work together, there is nothing beyond our reach and we will be able to stand together on the podium for many national anthems to come! "Majulah Singapura! Majulah Singapura!" [Applause.]”
“The important thing in life is not to triumph but to compete. All sports for all people. All sports must be treated on the basis of equality. The important thing in life is not victory but combat. It is not to have vanquished but to have fought well." In the spirit of equality, I would like to encourage MCCY to work closely with SDSC and SNPC to develop the ecosystem and programmes to enable PWDs to pursue sports participation. Even if Singapore has built world-class sports facilities, we have a ways to go in making these facilities accessible for PWDs. By making facilities accessible, we thereby enable our fellow Singaporeans the ability to participate and experience sports and everything wonderful it brings. As the sports ecosystem relies heavily on donations, sponsorships and volunteers at all levels, I encourage MCCY and SportSG to engage Government-linked companies and MNCs to adopt our national sports associations by financially supporting their activities. I would also like to urge more volunteers to step forward, be trained and make an impact through sport. I would like to encourage Coach SG and various national sporting bodies to develop para-coaching courses, to equip coaches with necessary knowledge and skills to provide appropriate programmes for PWDs at all levels across various sports. By doing so, I believe we can bridge the disparities between parasports and sports by creating opportunities for all and developing a more inclusive society, something deeply rooted in the values as a nation. Finally, my fellow Olympians and Paralympians, we are very proud of you. Please allow me to leave you with this. Whilst training for the Sydney 2000 Olympics, my coach Mr Kee Soon Bee passed away.”
“There is no doubt that Pin Xiu’s wins have motivated many. Her achievements in and out of the pool will leave a legacy on Singapore and Singaporeans. She has shed light on various groups of persons in society and inspired many to do their part to build a better and inclusive Singapore. Mr Speaker, I am overjoyed to hear that a special award has been created to acknowledge Pin Xiu's achievements and captures the spirit of her accomplishments. It is my hope that her success has inspired generations of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) to redefine their capabilities. Para-athletes like Pin Xiu and Theresa Goh have realigned my perceptions and taught me never to put limitations on their abilities. In turn, I hope that their accolades encourage other PWDs to look beyond their physical abilities and reimagine their own capabilities. Get active, take on a sport, pursue your passions. Hopefully, they will reach the heights of our para trailblazers and beyond. One day, we will be recognising their feats here in Parliament as well. The conversation around support and the disparity between parasports and sports in general happens every four years. Perhaps this time, we can ride this wave and work with the existing system, which needs more assistance. Hon Members, we recognise sport has the power to motivate, transform and unite. Sport is a great way to impart values. Our Olympians and Paralympians here today are an embodiment of values such as equality, respect and excellence. At the Tokyo Games, we saw these values in action. Pierre de Coubertin, the Founder of the Modern Day Olympic Movement said, "The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part. The essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well.”
“For athletes like Pin Xiu, who are more efficient in the water, adapting to a land-based training programme was a challenge. We had daily conference calls with SSI's Sport Scientists to make sure that all aspects of her training were covered, and together with Mick Massey from SDSC, we planned for a smooth transition post-circuit breaker. Never once did we lose sight of the target, and in the end, Pin Xiu won two golds. Two times, we, as a nation sang the Majulah Singapura at the Tokyo Aquatic Centre as we joined the world to watch our flag fly high. So, today, I would like to mention the amazing team that SportSG has assembled to be able to deliver a truly world-class programme. Pin Xiu’s gold medals are proof that we have the capability and resources to produce world beaters in Singapore. I hope that SportSG continues building on its capabilities and programmes to support our athletes. Pin Xiu is also a beneficiary of the spexScholarship, which many of our athletes here today are on. The spexScholarship provides an enhanced level of financial and programme support for Singapore’s elite athletes, enabling talented athletes to pursue their sporting careers longer. Other athletes like Joseph Schooling and Quah Zheng Wen have also been supported in their athletic ambitions by deferments granted by MINDEF. Because of these deferments, Singapore was able to realise its first Olympic gold, care of Joseph Schooling. These performances made the world sit up and take notice of Singapore. They redefined what is possible and inspired a new generation of athletes to take on their mantle for many Olympics to come. I hope MINDEF continues to work together with MCCY to recognise talented athletes with extraordinary potential to inspire and unite our nation for future deferments.”
“Training was disrupted, competition travel plans were terminated and the postponement of the Games meant that all of you had to put your lives on hold for an additional year. As an Olympian, I recognise the sacrifices you had to make. Some of you had to spend large amounts of time away from your loved ones to train and compete; others put their careers on hold; and others took time off school. All of this to reach the pinnacle of sport. Yet, it cannot be argued that the amazing achievements by our home-grown athletes would be impossible without the support of the Government and NGOs. As Members may know, I am Yip Pin Xiu’s coach, and it was indeed a privilege to be part of her journey. She is an amazing athlete and champion, who is professional, talented and not afraid of hard work. She would be the first to tell you that her success is not hers alone; and we have indeed benefitted greatly from the support from the Government as well as NGOs. Through our Tokyo campaign, I witnessed the grit and resilience of athletes like Pin Xiu mustered. Plans that brought athletes like Pin Xiu to success in 2016 had to completely be rewritten because of COVID-19. Limited training time, limited exposure to elite competition and relearning how to compete under new protocols, changed our approach entirely. I am very thankful that we had a great team in the MCCY, SportSG, Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC), Singapore National Paralympic Council (SNPC), Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC), the National Training Centre (NTC) and the Sports Hub who provided invaluable support, advice and action during this campaign. The circuit breaker was a very hard time, like many of the athletes here did not have access to training facility time and resources.”
“Dear Speaker, on the onset, I would like to declare that I am a member of SNOC, Chair of SNOC Athletes' Commission, Honorary Secretary of Olympians Singapore and Singapore Disability Sports Council coach for Yip Pin Xiu. Making it to the Olympics and the Paralympic Games is an incredible achievement that few can claim. Every Olympian and Paralympian must undergo the very same rite of passage: years of dedication and sacrifice, which amounts to tens of thousands of deliberate practice and hard work. It means qualifying and proving to the world to be among the best of the best. And I am so excited to congratulate you – our Olympians and Paralympians – on your achievements today! You did not just do it for yourselves. You did it for our nation, our people, our future champions, which is why I wholeheartedly support this Motion. As an Olympian myself, the chance to earn that invitation to compete for the glory of our flag, our nation Singapore, is something that can never be taken away. You are now Olympians and Paralympians forever as you have stood head-to-head and toe-to-toe amongst the worlds’ elite at the greatest show of excellence. For over a month, hon Members here, like most Singaporeans, eagerly followed your progress through the Games and you did not disappoint. You brought us through a multitude of emotions. We felt your joy when you did well; your passion when you fought; and your disappointment when things did not go as you hoped. Thank you for inspiring us during these challenging times, for stepping up and enabling us to look forward to you representing us, for showing the best of us as a people and for connecting us with the rest of the world! Any Olympic and Paralympic campaign is hard. The COVID-19 pandemic certainly made this one tougher.”
“This may mean investment in technology to host more virtual sessions. It may mean our coaches, teachers, trainers having to work longer hours to adapt to the safety measures. It definitely means we want to ensure that we can survive and impact Singaporeans in a healthy and meaningful way. We also want to ensure employees in this sector have a chance to keep and evolve in their jobs. Please consider providing quick financial support for the sports and fitness industry. Mdm Deputy Speaker, I support the Supplementary Budget.”
“Incomes have declined between 20% and 80% during this period. Safe management measures make it impossible to conduct sessions for teams; and pivoting to online instruction for some of these sports and fitness companies is impractical. Can more support be given to our self-employed persons and freelancers? Lastly, the National Sports Associations (NSAs) and the wider sporting ecosystem. NSAs are the cornerstone of the sporting ecosystem. They develop their respective sports from developing the high performance pathways, development programmes and coaching and officiating capabilities. A significant amount of funding comes from sponsorship and participation fees through events. Unfortunately, most national sports associations have not been able to run events in the past year. As national sports associations are an integral part of athlete development, a suggestion would be for the MTF to closely work with this sector in order to develop the roadmap for COVID-19. COVID-19 will, no doubt, leave a lasting impact on the sports and fitness industry, in the way businesses plan and operate; and in the way Singapore and its residents view and participate in sports and fitness activities. One thing we cannot allow is for COVID-19 to affect our pipeline and our sports ecosystem. With your help, the Government can be a teammate the industry needs, to make it through the next checkpoint. Hopefully, the last round, the last lap, the last hurdle. I understand a reversal to Phase Two (Heightened Alert) is necessary, yet I hope this gives you more insight into the sports and fitness industry's needs and why it needs additional support. We want to continue finding ways to keep citizens healthy despite a tightening of safety measures.”
“It was allaying to hear from Minister Lawrence Wong's Ministerial Statement yesterday that additional support will be given to eligible businesses affected by Phase Two (Heightened Alert) protocols. These businesses will receive more rental relief. Landlords chasing tenants for rental arrears based on full rent have been causing a lot of hardship and pressure on businesses. Even if tenants wish to cease their businesses, landlords have gone after, or threatened to go after the tenants for rental arrears and damages for landlords’ losses of rent until the end of their leases. It would be good if MinLaw can legislate relief. Such a break would enable tenants of privately-owned commercial properties to terminate their leases earlier without penalty if they show that their revenues have been significantly impacted. Perhaps, the Minister for Law can reconsider reintroducing the Re-Align Framework for a period for the sports and fitness industry as the industry has been badly affected this time around. It would also be good if the disbursement of the relief packages could be expedited. The previous support package from the last Phase Two (Heightened Alert) has not been disbursed. With the industry facing yet another set of heightened measures, it puts a strain on businesses. Companies have gone for almost four months without much income, costs are the only constant that companies have to continue bearing. As the hon Member Edward Chia shared earlier, businesses are facing low cash reserves. We need water to come quickly to fight the fire. The second group is freelancers and self-employed persons. As the hon Member Sharael Taha highlighted, the Phase Two (Heightened Alert) measures have hit coaches and trainers badly.”
“This is because sports are a test of character. They are a test of strength and, when one can make it to the pinnacle of achievement, sports become a vehicle of motivation and encouragement; a source of pride. As we tune into the next 12 days of the Tokyo Olympic Games, we hope to witness many more amazing stories. Ahmed Hafnaoui, the 18-year-old Tunisian who won the Gold in the men’s 400-metre freestyle, and Anna Kiesenofer, the Maths lecturer who rode solo the last 40 kilometres of the women’s cycling road race to win Gold and Singapore’s very own Chantal Liew whose qualification to the Olympic Games is historic in and of itself as our first marathon swimmer to participate in the Games. What is important is the journey and not the actual event. Even on a non-competitive level, fitness benefits include a physically healthier population and stronger mental health for Singaporeans. COVID-19 affects our entire society and the sports and fitness industry is no exception. We need help. Additional resources in the relief Budget go a long way to ensure the industry’s survival. Right now, this moment, is an excellent opportunity to reaffirm my belief that we are in this together, Mdm Deputy Speaker; we are stronger together. I would like to speak for three groups of players in the sports and fitness industry. First, the sports and fitness businesses. There are nearly 600 such establishments in the country. They serve 500,000 to 600,000 members, our residents. Without extra funding, these businesses cannot operate despite their contribution to society. With your support, however, the sector can.”
“Good evening, Mdm Deputy Speaker, and thank you for allowing me to join this debate. Singapore is not a large country, but we are a strong one. We are known for decisiveness, solidarity amongst our people and business excellence. We all know the severity of COVID-19. We crawled, staggered and eventually walked through it with fewer casualties than many nations last year. And we understand that the resurgence of infections and the Delta variant are real risks to public health. This crisis affects our entire society. But going back to Phase Two (Heightened Alert) will require additional financial support for many businesses in the sports and fitness sector. Phase Two (Heightened Alert) for these businesses is an existential threat. The industry is grateful for the assistance given last year. Some businesses have recovered while others have not. For those remaining, it is crucial to their survival to receive additional resources. Many may not think of sports and fitness as a priority segment, but it is a part of the magic that brings Singaporeans together. Because of Phase Two (Heightened Alert), sports are disrupted. Teams cannot train because the maximum group size allowed to gather is two people; athletes cannot compete. This creates an extra burden for our national sports associations and sportspersons. Yesterday, the respective Ministers spoke about a roadmap for Singapore, which changes the posture from dealing with COVID-19 to living with COVID-19. I hope this roadmap marks the next chapter for a seemingly endless journey that is COVID-19. Many may know that I am an Olympian. Many understand that it takes a lot of work to reach that level of competition. But many may not realise that the journey to the event matters more than the event itself.”
“Currently, there is no system to help keep retired athletes engaged in the national programmes, save for Olympians Singapore. I honestly believe that athletes want to continue to give back to their fraternity and inspire Singaporeans. Indeed, when an athlete retires, there is no engagement beyond that. Many athletes have gone on to establish themselves in the corporate and business world. They would likely hire ex-national athletes and sponsor programmes – they were from the system, after all. It is a waste that this is not done. My thoughts are that heritage is closely linked with culture. Just as we reminisce on the glory of the Kallang Roar, we must remain cognisant that youth today may not know what that means. We have a sports heritage in that the current generations can stand on our past sporting giants' shoulders. I hope MCCY can do more to recognise and engage past athletes. Booking System for Sports Facilities”
“E-sports is alive, it is real and it is evolving at an ever-increasing pace. Indeed, e-sports can offer a space for everyone and it makes good business and economic sense. The possibilities are boundless if we seize the opportunities we have been given and which we helped create. We intend to host the annual Global Esports Games in December 2021 and every year after that. A rich portfolio of events will fill the calendar with a global platform for competition and entertainment. This event offers another excellent opportunity for Singapore to welcome the world and shape how the world consumes live events. My sincere hope is that Singapore's e-sports community will grow and prosper and better e-sports globally to benefit athletes, players, teams and other stakeholders in our community. Just as the Olympic Movement values elevate sports, we hope to highlight and bring out the best in e-sports. Creating our Sporting Heritage Mr Chairman, my last cut relates to creating our sporting heritage. In my Budget debate speech, I took the opportunity to recognise our past athletes who had done Singapore proud in times when resources were scarce and inspired generations after them to take on the mantle and fly Singapore's flag high on the world stage. Olympians and national athletes in the earlier decades had to resort to their own resources to help sustain and balance earning a living and competing in sports. Incentive programmes such as the Major Games Award Programme were established in the 1990s, which do not confer retrospective recognition. More can be done to recognise and help these athletes who contributed to Singapore's sporting glory and paved the way for future generations to succeed.”
“They look on track to follow successful local-born companies like Sea and Razer, who grew a good part of their business thanks to e-sports and gaming, creating thousands of jobs in the process. Multinational companies in the e-sports and gaming industry like Tencent, Ubisoft and Moonton have also set up regional offices here in Singapore. They are expected to introduce hundreds of jobs in the coming year. On a sports administrative front, we welcomed the world to the launch of the Global Esports Federation (GEF) on 16 December 2019 to convene the world's e-sports eco-system right here in Singapore. That very same day, we welcomed the world's largest gaming company and technology giant, Tencent, as the founding global partner of the GEF. Having Tencent with us has helped propel plans into reality. The vision of Tencent's leadership saw them join the GEF as its very first partner and, in less than a year later, to establish its regional hub right here in Singapore. The GEF launch, watched by over 940 million people across the globe, crystalised in our minds the power, potential and reach of e-sports around the world. For us at home in Singapore, we saw opportunities—it is not gaming and e-sports alone but the large, growing eco-system around it. The possibilities are boundless across education, events, health and wellness initiatives, technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and innovation. With these developments, I believe Singapore can and should do more to take on a leading role in shaping the industry. Mr Chairman, my remarks today come with a sense of optimism and opportunity, hope, and genuine excitement for the future. I believe the future of e-sports is incredibly bright if we gather our knowledge, listen to each other and help shape the future together.”
“Today, large-scale e-sports tournaments draw more viewers than "traditional sports". For instance, the League of Legends World Championships held in Shanghai in late 2020, drew more than 46 million viewers. The world has also come to recognise e-sports as part of the sports eco-system. Recently, the Olympic Council of Asia confirmed that the Asian Games would offer a programme where e-sports has its place as a full medal event in 2022. E-sports is one of the sectors which has grown rapidly and accelerated during the pandemic. With viewership and gaming participation currently at all-time highs, and in a time where content is king, you can expect e-sports to be here to stay. The e-sports industry currently sees double-digit growth and such growth has found its way into the Singapore landscape. With Singapore's strong local infrastructure, like fast and stable Internet, top global teams have found Singapore very conducive for their professional team training. There are more than 20 full-time professional players here, with the top 10 having made more than $3 million in prize winnings alone. This figure does not include salaries and sponsorships. There are also others employed as full-time coaches and managers of local teams as well as professional teams in major markets like the US and China. 3.00 pm Looking ahead, top e-sports events in Singapore are expected to spend at least $30 million in 2021. This will boost many local start-ups and businesses in media, events and supporting services. Promising local start-ups like yup.gg and EVOS have between them raised more than $31 million in investments and we can expect many more to follow in their footsteps.”
“So, considering the industry's needs and the existing infrastructure already in place, I would suggest a skills framework to be developed by the sports industry, for the sports industry, with the full support of the Singapore Government. This would lead to a meaningful growth in a more cost-effective and targeted way. Jobs Support Scheme for Sports and Fitness Sector Chairman, my second cut relates to the JSS for the sports and fitness sector. In my Budget debate speech, I highlighted that the pandemic has severely hit the sports, fitness and wellness industry. Although Singapore is easing into phase 3, sports and fitness academies and establishments are not able to fully open due to social distancing measures. Pool space is reduced, school programmes and facilities are limited, and gyms cannot operate to efficient capacities. Also, establishments located in retail facilities still have the added pressure of rental. Some gym operators are reporting as low as 50% revenues compared to pre-COVID 19 levels. Because of this, I would like MCCY to consider upgrading the sports and fitness industry from tier 3 to Tier 2 for JSS support. I would also like to thank Minister at MCCY for recognising the sector and for extending more support to the industry through the Sports Innovation Grant and Operating Grant extension to December 2021. This will complement the JSS. Development of E-sports in Singapore My third cut is on the development of the e-sports industry in Singapore. Chairman, it is my pleasure to speak on the emergence and progress of e-sports in Singapore today. I would like to not only talk about e-sports through the lens of the future but about the possibilities for Singapore today, as the future has indeed arrived on our shores.”
“At the outset, I would like to declare that I am Chairman of the SNOC's Athletes' Commission; Member of the Olympic Council of Asian's Athlete Committee; Honorary Secretary of Olympians Singapore and Director of Secretariat at the Global Esports Federation My first cut relates to the development of a skills framework for the sports and fitness industry. It is undeniable that for an industry to grow and thrive, it must be set up in an environment that is conducive for such growth. The necessary conditions must be there to make people to want to join the industry and develop it. My question today is, are these conditions present for the sports and fitness industry and can more be done to facilitate this growth? To my mind, the industry could do well to develop a framework that is competency and skills oriented. Countries like the UK and Australia already have frameworks in place that require employers to hire coaches and fitness trainers who complete specified vocational courses. Further, to get a better sense of the industry's specific needs, the focus should be on engaging the people who do the work daily. The demands of the industry are everchanging and it would be difficult for the Government machinery to keep pace with the dynamic demands. Say, nutrition. There are many fads out there – the keto diet, Atkins diet, the list goes on. Would HPB be able to keep coming up with the requisite courses to train people in these areas? The short answer is that it would be difficult and costly. Sports and fitness is a multi-faceted industry and a cookie-cutter approach would be difficult to apply.”
“Chairman, please allow me to take the next four cuts together.”
“And I would like to acknowledge hon Members Sitoh Yih Pin and Xie Yao Quan for their comments on the importance of SafeSport; (b) ensure coaches and trainers are given adequate and relevant training that meets the needs of the industry and (c) that there is a vibrant sports industry for businesses to thrive. We should continue to enhance the capabilities of SEPs and promote the SMEs in this sector. Mr Chairman, 2034 is just 14 years away, and if we are strategic in our approach, we are looking at the current batch of Primary school students who will likely be in our starting lineup. We must act swiftly before this window of opportunity narrows. Celebrating Singapore Hawker Culture”
“Many vital factors are critical to the achievement of this goal. I want to address three of them. One, develop a broad base to identify talent. I believe Singapore has athletic, coaching and administrative talent. We have seen Singaporeans achieve on the global stage. However, much of this is left to chance. I hope MCCY can consider how systems can be put in place to identify and groom athletes, coaches and administrators. Two, systems and pathways. I want to ask if our systems and progression pathways are robust and competitive enough to reach Goal 2034. Are the leagues and divisions competitive enough to groom talent to be world beaters? Can we definitively say that our leagues are as competitive as the EPL, La Liga, Bundesliga, or Serie A? If not, can we enable more Singaporeans to venture overseas and play in more competitive leagues? Last week, Irfan Fandi as part of his club BG Pathum, became the first Singaporean to be part of a team that won Thailand’s top tier football league. In sports that have consistently performed for Singapore, such as swimming, Joseph Schooling and Quah Zheng Wen live and train abroad to spar with the world’s best on a daily basis. Though most of our national swim team train at the NTC at the Sports Hub’s Aquatic Centre, it took years for the swimming eco-system to develop. There is no doubt in my mind that more sports in Singapore need to establish systems and pathways to identify, develop and retain more talent. What are MCCY's plans to achieve this? 1.15 pm Three, create an environment for sports to thrive. This entails: (a) enabling Singaporeans to participate and compete in sports safely.”
“Thank you. At the outset, I should declare that I am Chairman of SNOC’s Athletes’ Commission. My first cut relates to the safety of travelling national athletes. In my Budget debate speech, I said that Sports inspires and unites. Our Team Singapore athletes will have multiple opportunities to fly our flag high at the Olympics, Paralympics and Southeast Asian Games. I hope that our athletes and support teams harness the opportunity whilst protecting themselves as they train and prepare for their competitions. I want to thank MCCY and SportSG for making the COVID-19 vaccination available for athletes who need to go abroad for training and competitions. Although we have these target competitions in mind, the road to these major competitions is long. Our athletes will still need to train and qualify for them. I hope that the respective Government agencies will provide adequate opportunities and access to resources, for eligible athletes to train and prepare themselves adequately for the glory of Singapore. Working Towards Goal 2034 "Goal 2034" was an idea mooted by FAS in August 2019 and discussed at the 2020 COS debates. An ambitious plan to have our football team qualify for the World Cup. At first glance, it may seem as though it is an impossible task. But accomplishing seemingly impossible tasks is something Singapore has no lack of experience in. Goal 2034 should not focus on the singular achievement of just football and our nation’s endeavour of qualifying for the World Cup. Success should take a broader perspective covering the other active sports, development systems, culture and the industry. Goal 2034 presents an excellent opportunity to test our sports ecosystem and be the catalyst that levels up Singapore as a sporting nation.”
“Chairman, please allow me to take the next two cuts together.”
“and Project ParABLE, a Temasek Foundation-sponsored pilot that offers resources, such as athlete ambassadors and equipment, to bring para-sports experiences to all students. We should evaluate how we can allocate resources to continue and extend such support to all schools to get us closer to the podium goal of sustainable inclusion. Update on SkillsFuture Initiatives”
“Mr Chairman, it is encouraging that inclusion has been a consistent theme in our recent Budgets. In sports, medals are won in seconds and those fleeting moments belie years of effort. Our training towards inclusion has just begun and I am concerned whether we are committed enough to reach the podium. Not many of you know that para-athlete Theresa Goh and I represented Singapore in Athens 2004 – I at the Olympics and her in the Paralympics. I learned about the Paralympic Movement then and, over the years, got to know more para-athletes. In 2019, I found little hesitance in deciding to become Yip Pin Xiu's coach even though I have never coached anyone with disabilities before. We share the same passion, spoke the language and I soon learned that we have more similarities between us than differences. I felt confident in adapting what I know with what she needs to enact her Paralympic success. Typically, when a child expresses an aspiration to become an Olympian, we can guide the child to pursue this aspiration through CCAs and clubs. But what if the child has disabilities? Can appropriate advice and encouragement be given to them? Does the child have to be contented with just inclusive physical education (PE)? There is no doubt we need to play the long game for inclusion and I have two suggestions to make. First, our educators must understand the Paralympics. Most Singaporeans already know what the Olympics are, but not its parallel movement. Second, support our educators with additional resources to teach youths. 3.45 pm Both suggestions have been tried and tested by the Singapore Disability Sports Council through two pilots: The I'mPOSSIBLE programme that attracted over 250 educators to undergo training on the Paralympic movement.”
“In January, Singapore played host to the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang M2 World Championships; this week, Singapore hosts the ATP 250 tennis tournament, and other major international events that are on the horizon, such as the World Economic Forum in August. Singapore's stable and secure conditions make us an attractive destination to host events in the current global environment. Organisers that would not have thought Singapore previously are considering hosting their events here. Singapore should consider taking on these opportunities, as there are many benefits to hosting these industry events here. They are reinforcing our role in the global sporting scene and add vibrancy to the local sporting environment. Mr Speaker, please allow me to conclude by saying that sports is an enabler to better heath, creates opportunities beneficial to our population and unites Singaporeans. Sport is relatable to many of us – we have yet to realise the full potential in maximising the opportunities. Sport is important to Singapore and Singapore can play an important role in global sports. I sincerely hope that this year's, and indeed future Budgets, will reflect the critical role that sports and athletes and sports business can, and do, play in our country, both economically and socially. With that, Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the Budget. 4.20 pm”
“I want to encourage the Government to work together with NSAs to develop their respective digital strategies. Use technology as an enabler, keep our athletes in the sport where they may not be physically able to participate, and keep them engaged as it is vital piece of our pipeline for athletes to continue participating in their respective development programmes. Needless to say, while the pandemic has negatively affected the sports and fitness industry in general; however, there were those who were able to thrive and were able to find new avenues of business. E-sports and gaming, for example, were sectors that grew during the pandemic. In a year where regular broadcast and scheduling of sports games have been affected, e-sports maintained most of its original programming. Players and leagues moved to remote broadcasting and content was streamed from homes or other remote locations. E-sports' revenues in 2020 are expected to grow US$1.1 billion, a 15.7% year-on-year growth from 2019. Some of the biggest gaming firms, such as Tencent, Garena, Ubisoft and DEA are locating their regional headquarters in Singapore. Singapore is in an excellent position to develop this industry, leading to good jobs for Singaporeans in the fast-growing industry. However, we must also not forget the other parts of the sports industry and sports enterprises whom the pandemic has adversely impacted. More could be done to help the private sports enterprises survive and to allow them to recover and grow stronger. The pandemic has presented a unique opportunity for Singapore to play a crucial role in international events.”
“They have done Singapore proud in times when resources were scarce and inspired generations after them to take on the mantle and fly Singapore’s flag high on the world stage: Neo Chwee Kok, Tang Pui Wah, Tan Howe Liang, Wong Peng Soon and many more. These are some of the names I grew up hearing and inspired me to train and represent Singapore. I have no doubt these were household names for some of our fellow Members, too, and they perhaps inspired some of us to pick up a racket, stick, ball, or track shoes and compete. I believe that Singapore has the talent to produce world beaters if we provide the right environment for the enterprises and athletes to grow and develop. These sports icons have shown us it is possible; however, we must recognise our past achievements and be proud of our sporting heritage. A Singapore sporting heritage. Perhaps, it is time to set up a Team Singapore Alumni programme that recognises the accomplishments of our Pioneers and allows retired athletes to continue contributing to the sporting eco-system. Our National Sports Associations (NSAs) form a key pillar in our local sports infrastructure locally. The NSAs' developed their respective sports, whose programmes form great social significance by being the glue that binds communities together. The challenge for our NSA programmes in times of the pandemic is access to facilities and the ability to pivot during the pandemic. International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach urged International Federations, not once but twice in 2020, to consider their sport in electronic and virtual forms. An example of international sports federations pivoting to virtual platforms is the F1 Virtual Grand Prix.”
“Participation in sports and fitness in a broader sense can instil and develop physical resilience. Through the pandemic, we saw Singaporeans battle through several difficult situations, including social isolation and caring for their mental health. Physical activity has a considerable potential to enhance our well-being. A short burst of a 10 minutes' brisk walk increases a person's mental alertness, energy and positive mood, as shown in a recent study in the Journal of Behavioural Medicine. Participation in regular physical activity can boost self-esteem and can reduce stress and anxiety. According to an article by the British Journal of Occupational Therapy, it also plays a role in preventing mental health problems and improving people's quality of life. Sports can inspire and unite people. We experienced it when our athletes take to the pool, track, field, or court and bring glory to Singapore. We felt the high when Joseph Schooling had his "where were you when it happened" Olympic gold medal moment; we remember our Lion’s glory and the Kallang Roar. In 2021, our Team Singapore athletes will have multiple opportunities to fly our flag high at the Olympics and Paralympics and Southeast Asian Games. I hope that our athletes and support teams harness the opportunity whilst protecting themselves as they train and prepare for their competitions. I want to acknowledge and thank the MCCY and SportSG, to make the COVID-19 vaccination available for athletes who need to go abroad for training and competitions. I would also like to ask that we should not waste the opportunity to elevate these moments to inspire and unite our nation. At this juncture, Mr Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognise our past athletes.”
“Mr Speaker, thank you for allowing me to join in this debate. Before I begin, I would like to thank the Finance Minister for a comprehensive and forward-thinking Budget, which I believe addresses a wide range of relevant issues and concerns that impact Singaporeans today. Twenty-twenty was a challenging year for many, including, the sports, fitness and wellness industry. Many businesses in this sector started to feel the effects of the pandemic as early as January 2020, when news of COVID-19 first emerged. However, while the industry has partially resumed operations, albeit under strict social distancing controls, the industry has yet to really recover. There are an estimated 500 to 600 sports and fitness establishments in Singapore, serving over 500,000 members and participants through their programmes. Some establishments have recovered better than others, with big box gyms having been the hardest hit, with revenues up to 40% to 50% of the pre-COVID-19 level. Some of these gyms have developed and implemented digital strategies offering online classes and programmes; however, more thought needs to be put in on how these gyms and academies can successfully monetise these online programmes. Now that Singapore is easing into Phase Three, it is time to focus on the industry and rehabilitation efforts and how we can allow the sports industry, both sports enterprises and people participating in sports, to get back on their feet. I am heartened to hear that the Sports Resilience Package will be extended in FY2021 to support businesses and self-employed persons in the sector. I am also encouraged to note that an additional $45 million will be set aside for the Arts, Culture and Sports sectors to supply capacity building and sector transformation.”