Usage of ActiveSG's Inclusive Swimming Pools and Gyms by Persons with Disabilities
Ministry of Culture, Community and YouthSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns MP Ong Hua Han’s inquiry regarding the usage of ActiveSG’s inclusive facilities by persons with disabilities and expansion plans for accessibility features. Minister Edwin Tong Chun Fai replied that SportSG does not track specific usage figures as members are not required to disclose disabilities, though surveys show rising participation. He highlighted that pools with ramps have increased to eight, with two more expected by 2025 and feasibility studies ongoing for all remaining pools. All 27 ActiveSG gyms are on track to be inclusive by 2026, supported by a new gym orientation programme for persons with disabilities launching this year. Furthermore, the Disability Sports Master Plan is being updated to further boost participation and more details will be shared later this year.
Transcript
44 Mr Ong Hua Han asked the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (a) for each year from 2019 to 2023, what proportion of people who have used ActiveSG's inclusive swimming pools are persons with disabilities; and (b) whether there are plans to retrofit more swimming pools with ramps beyond the six swimming pools currently.
45 Mr Ong Hua Han asked the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (a) whether ActiveSG keeps track of the number of persons with disabilities (PwDs) who visit inclusive gyms; and (b) given that ActiveSG plans to make all ActiveSG Gyms inclusive by 2026, what are the plans to increase usage of the gyms by PwDs.
Mr Edwin Tong Chun Fai: SportSG's current system does not track the number of persons with disabilities who use the ActiveSG inclusive swimming pools and gyms, as it does not require its users to state if they have any disabilities when registering to be ActiveSG members.
The National Sport Participation Survey conducted by SportSG, shows rising participation in sports by persons with disabilities – from 28% in 2015 to 54% in 2022. To support even more persons with disabilities to access our sports facilities, SportSG is taking steps to enable even more of its ActiveSG swimming pools and gyms to be inclusive.
The number of swimming pools that have been retrofitted with ramps for wheelchairs has increased from six to eight over the past year. By the end of 2025, two more swimming pools will have ramps, as part of ActiveSG's rejuvenation plans. SportSG will study the feasibility and explore the installation of inclusive features, such as ramps and hoists, at all remaining ActiveSG swimming pools. All new ActiveSG swimming facilities will also be fitted with inclusive features.
Eight ActiveSG gyms have been equipped with machines to make them accessible for users of all abilities. SportSG is on track to make all 27 ActiveSG gyms inclusive by 2026. To encourage gym usage by persons with disabilities, SportSG is developing an ActiveSG gym orientation programme for persons with disabilities that will be ready this year.
The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and SportSG have also been working with partners to update the Disability Sports Master Plan to further boost sport participation among persons with disabilities and will share more details later this year.