GetActive Singapore Returns to Celebrate Singapores 52nd Birthday through Sport

GetActive Singapore Returns to Celebrate Singapores 52nd Birthday through Sport

There’s something for everyone at this year’s GetActive! Singapore (GASG) which takes place from 29 July to 9 August 2017. GASG aims to attract all Singaporeans to celebrate National Day with a spectrum of sporting activities across the island.

This year’s Active Enabler Programme (AEP) has seen even more quality proposals from the community. Registration for the National Youth Games, National Corporate Games and National Masters Games under Sport Competitions have also seen over 12,000 sign-ups across the 20 sports and 10 para-sports.

Active Enabler Programme

The second edition of GASG has seen many exciting event proposals put forth through the AEP, an initiative to support ground-up community projects through grants and endorsements. The quality and uniqueness of the events has gone up as a total of 291 events will be supported under the AEP.

With over 50 public events supported by the AEP to choose from, people can take part in yoga, high intensity workouts, outdoor adventure activities, and seniors-friendly fitness workouts. They can also join the record-breaking attempt to lift 52,000kg collectively in commemoration of Singapore’s 52nd birthday.

The Superhero mass walk at Sports Hub and a functional fitness routine for seniors at the newly opened Heartbeat@Bedok will also feature in this year’s GASG. The Bear Grylls wannabes can also pick up new skills by learning adventure life hacks and the basics of camping outdoors.

Modified sports events for people with disabilities will be held at the Inclusive Sports Festival at Our Tampines Hub on 29 – 30 July.

President of Outdoor Learning & Adventure Education Association (OLAE), Mr Lye Yen Kai shared his thoughts on several of the organisations under the association being selected to be part of GetActive! Singapore’s Active Enabler Programme.

”OLAE is excited to partner GetActive! Singapore. It is indeed a meaningful platform for families and individuals to experience outdoor activities, especially when many may be trying outdoor activities for the first time. We hope that outdoor adventure will play a part in building an active Singapore and there are endless teachable and memorable moments in our activities.”

Outdoor enthusiasts and budding adventurers can participate in the following events: Adventure Life Hacks, Connecting with Nature, Start Right with Camping Outdoors, Archery Combat Challenge & Laser Combat Challenge, Ed-Venture Outdoor Experience Challenge and Augmented Climbing.

Sports Festivals

Across nine key locations, the Sports Festivals will take place over the two weekends from 29 – 30 July and 5 – 6 August. The Sports Festival at the Padang, will be held throughout the duration of GASG, with the GASG launch taking place at Car-Free Sunday SG on 30 July. Many of the events supported under the AEP will be at these Sports Festival locations.

• The Padang (29 July to 8 Aug)
  - Launch of GASG on 30 July

• Singapore Sports Hub (5, 6 Aug)
  - Closing of GASG on 8 Aug

• Sentosa Island (29 - 30 July & 5 -6 Aug)

• Our Tampines Hub, (29 -30 July)

• Field next to Punggol MRT (29 – 30 July)

• Field next to Tampines MRT (29 – 30 July)

• Toa Payoh HDB Hub Atrium (5 – 6 Aug)

• Field next to Jurong East MRT (5 – 6 Aug)

• Field next to Djitsun mall at Ang Mo Kio (5 – 6 Aug)

(Refer to Annex for more details)

Sports Competitions – National Youth, Corporate & Masters Games

As a prelude to the biennial Singapore National Games, this will be the very first National Youth, Corporate & Masters Games to be held during GetActive! Singapore.

The competitive sports enthusiasts have come out in strength to support the National Youth, Corporate and Masters Games. This year has seen over 12,000 sign-ups, with over 3,000 sign-ups from corporates across the various sports.

Mr Lai Chin Kwang, Chief of ActiveSG is encouraged by the support from corporates. “We are glad to see that organisations are increasingly participating in sport in one way or another. This year, we have support from a variety of companies from banks, private institutions, fellow 3 statutory boards, and the SMEs. We look forward to working closely with organisations moving forward and to explore ways to enhance the quality of a work-life balance through sport.”

Standard Chartered is one such organisation that will be sending representatives for Volleyball and Table Tennis. Ms Elaine Chan, President of the Standard Chartered Recreation Club in Singapore said, “Standard Chartered has been an active advocate of sport in Singapore. The Bank has been the title sponsor of the Singapore Marathon since 2002, and we are proud to witness how the event has shaped the popularity of running as a sport in Singapore. Internally, the management of the Bank strongly encourages staff to maintain an active lifestyle and participate in sporting activities. It is great that GetActive! Singapore is extending the activities to corporate teams this year. Several teams from the Bank have come together and signed up for this. Besides getting active, this is also a great way to bond and make new friends.”

Marina Bay Sands will be sending a number of their staff for the National Corporate Games. They will be participating in seven sports which are: Athletics, Cycling, Dragon Boat, Basketball, Badminton, Bowling and Football.

Ms Chan Yit Foon, Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Marina Bay Sands, said, “Sports has always been a key pillar of Marina Bay Sands' internal corporate culture. It not only strengthens camaraderie and staff bonding, it also provides opportunities for personal development through leadership and teamwork. For the very first time this year, a total 119 of our athletes will be participating in the National Corporate Games to represent Marina Bay Sands. We are proud to play our part in championing the nation's sporting spirit.”

The sport of Cycling at the GASG Sport Competition will take on an exploration concept where cyclists can start and end at designated sport centres around Singapore. The Round-Island Bike Adventure Towards SG100 (RIBA SG100) consists of a recommended 106km cycling route around Singapore that will include themed challenges at various check-points.

Leveraging on the very first of its kind ‘deep-water solo’ bouldering competition in Southeast Asia, Crux, the event takes place at ActiveSG Toa Payoh Swimming Complex from 5 – 8 August, and is organised by Singapore University of Technology and Design’s Climbers. Thrill-seekers can try their hand at the public challenge categories in between the bouldering competition and climb up to heights of 5 metres without any harness or rope. To complete the climb, participants will jump into the diving pool below.

GetActive! Singapore with NS50

GetActive! Singapore will also be celebrating 50 years of National Service (NS50) where we can all come together to play. Back again for the second season, clock at least 50,000 steps with the GetActive! Singapore Step Challenge from 22 July - 9 August 2017 and redeem a limited edition NS50 jerry can water bottle while stocks last. The person that clocks the most number of steps in their category will each win an Apple Watch.

In celebration of NS50, national servicemen and their family and friends will receive complimentary access to ActiveSG Swimming Complexes and Gyms from 5 – 6 August when they present their SAF/SPF/SCDF 11B or SAFRA/HomeTeamNS membership cards upon entry.

Find out more about GetActive! Singapore 2017 at GetActive! Singapore.

Annex A - Sports Festivals and Enabler write up