Group and Individual Booking of SportSG Sports Facilities and Steps to Prevent Profiteering and Monopolisation
Ministry of Culture, Community and YouthSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Mr Yip Hon Weng’s inquiry into SportSG’s facility booking priorities, improvements for individual bookings, and measures against profiteering and monopolisation. Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong Chun Fai explained that priority is accorded to National Sports Associations and public agencies for national training and community programmes, while others use an online system. To support individuals, SportSG is enhancing its booking platform and has introduced ActiveSG Sport Interest Groups to allow participation without the need for separate facility bookings. The Minister emphasized that the Government takes a strong view against profiteering and has adopted enhanced measures to combat such practices. These initiatives aim to ensure the Sport Facilities Master Plan provides fair access for public use while meeting the training needs of national athletes.
Transcript
52 Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (a) whether SportSG prioritises groups over individuals for the booking of its sports facilities; (b) how can the booking system be improved to facilitate easier booking by individuals; and (c) how does SportSG prevent the profiteering and monopolisation of group bookings.
Mr Edwin Tong Chun Fai: The Government has steadily increased and enhanced its provision of sports facilities for both public use and national team training over time, as part of its Sports Facilities Master Plan. To support the training of national teams and athletes, National Sports Associations are accorded priority in the booking of sports facilities. Sport Singapore (SportSG) also facilitates bookings by public agencies to deliver community sporting programmes, such as the Ministry of Education's school programmes and events. Apart from this, in all other cases, including for individuals and other groups, bookings are done through the online booking system.
SportSG has been enhancing its online booking system to improve the booking experience by ActiveSG members. We have also introduced another avenue for individuals to play sports regularly through the ActiveSG Sport Interest Groups. Individuals can join the Interest Groups and take part in the selected sport without having to separately make a booking for the sport facility. From 17 January 2024, ActiveSG members can sign up for these interest groups via the ActiveSG app.
The Government takes a strong view against the profiteering of bookings for public sports facilities. SportSG has adopted a number of enhanced measures to combat such practices. These are detailed in the oral reply to a Parliamentary Question on 4 July 2023. [Please refer to "Strengthening ActiveSG's Booking Software System", Official Report, 4 July 2023, Vol 95, Issue 106, Oral Answers to Questions section.]