Impact of Change of Singapore Sports Hub Ownership and Management on Access to Facilities and Government Funding
Ministry of Culture, Community and YouthSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the impact of the government's takeover of the Singapore Sports Hub on elite training access and funding for National Sports Associations (NSAs). Mr Mark Chay inquired if training hours would be affected, whether NSAs can provide booking inputs, and if operating costs would reduce high-performance programme funding. Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong Chun Fai clarified that funding for NSAs will remain unaffected as Sports Hub maintenance is handled under a separate budget. He stated that NSAs will continue to receive priority booking for facilities, with SportSG coordinating alternative venues during events to prevent training displacement. The government aims to leverage greater flexibility to optimize facility usage across national athletes, the public, and event organisers to better balance various sporting needs.
Transcript
53 Mr Mark Chay asked the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (a) whether elite training hours at the Singapore Sports Hub will be affected by the change of ownership and management of the Sports Hub; and (b) whether the National Sports Associations will be able to provide inputs with respect to booking of Singapore Sports Hub’s facilities to avoid national teams being displaced at critical training periods before major games and/or competitions.
54 Mr Mark Chay asked the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (a) whether the cost of running the Singapore Sports Hub will affect the funding allocated to National Sports Associations and their high performance and high participation programmes; and (b) whether the costs of running, operating and maintaining the Singapore Sports Hub will fall under a separate budget under the Ministry.
Mr Edwin Tong Chun Fai: The National Sports Associations (or NSAs) are key stakeholders in our sports ecosystem.
(a) NSAs identify promising athletes and groom them. They support athletes by coordinating training and competition schedules, hiring suitable coaches, and monitoring athletes’ progress.
(b) Furthermore, NSAs play an integral role in promoting a broad-based sporting culture in Singapore. They run outreach programmes to increase Singaporeans’ exposure to their sport, as well as pathway programmes to cater to those who wish to pursue their interests further.
Therefore, the Government works closely with and supports NSAs to achieve the best outcomes for our athletes, and for sports in Singapore.
Today, more than 50 NSAs receive grants from Sport Singapore (SportSG).
(a) These grants defray the operating costs of high-performance and outreach programmes run by the NSAs.
(b) Government funding is augmented by the One Team Singapore Fund (OTSF). Under this scheme, NSAs that are Charities and Institutions of Public Character (IPCs) receive matching grants from Government for donations they raise.
This funding to NSAs will not be affected by the government’s taking over and running of the Sports Hub. The Government already sets aside funds for operating and maintaining the Sports Hub today, and this will continue to be the arrangement.
Today, the NSAs are accorded priority in the booking of Sports Hub facilities for the training of our national teams and athletes. NSAs also have priority access to ActiveSG facilities for this purpose.
NSAs are allowed to and do book Sports Hub and ActiveSG facilities up to one year in advance. When NSAs are displaced from Sports Hub facilities due to events and competitions, SportSG works closely with the NSAs to book alternative ActiveSG facilities for training.
After the Government takes over the ownership and management of the Sports Hub, NSAs will continue to have access to Sports Hub and ActiveSG facilities. SportSG will continue to work closely with the NSAs to understand and meet their needs.
We will have more flexibility to optimise the use of Sports Hub and ActiveSG facilities across the NSAs, athletes, members of the public, and event organisers. This allows us to strike a better balance in meeting our stakeholders’ needs. We will assess usage and allocation across stakeholders more fully and holistically, after we have taken over the Sports Hub.
This is important because our sport facilities cater not only to High-Performance Sport, but also to the recreational and sporting needs of all Singaporeans.