Boost For Youth Sports With New Satellite Centers For Sports Development

29 MAY 2010

Boost For Youth Sports With New Satellite Centers For Sports Development

Government Pumps in S$2.5m to Promote Youth Sports Development in Singapore as Part of Singapore 2010 Legacy

Singapore, 29 May 2010 - Youth sports in Singapore received a huge boost today when the Singapore Youth Sports Development (SYSD) committee unveiled its plans to have up to 26 Satellite Centres for Sports Development set up for selected sports that will be featured at the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games over the next two years. The introduction of the satellite centres is part of Singapore’s legacy from hosting of the inaugural Youth Olympic Games to be held from 14 to 26 August 2010.

  1. With S$2.5 million committed to the programme by the SYSD Committee, the satellite centres will be established in phases in existing sports facilities such as schools, sports and recreation centres as well as community centres that are located in the heartlands to allow for easy access. The first four centres for Sailing, Wrestling, Badminton and Basketball are set to be in operations by June 2010.

  2. Chairmen of the SYSD committee, Mr Teo Ser Luck, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports and Ministry of Transport and Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Home Affairs officiated the launch ceremony of the Satellite Centres for Sports Development held at the Singapore Wrestling Federation today.

  3. Targeted specially for children and youths aged six to 16, the Satellite Centres for Sports Development will serve as the launching pad for them to learn new sports in a safe, fun and friendly community setting. These satellite centres aim to provide these youths with multiple opportunities for participation in a diverse range of sports and at the same time, allow them to play regularly with their peers in a structured sports programme.

  4. Senior Parliamentary Secretary for MCYS and MOT and Co-Chairman of the SYSD committee, Mr Teo Ser Luck said, “The Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games has catalysed a boost in youth sports development. The satellite centres will provide our youth more opportunities to learn and play sports in a fun, safe environment and encourage them to embrace a sporting lifestyle early in life. The centres will build on the momentum that we have developed in youth sports over the past two years and ensure continued growth of youth sports in Singapore beyond 2010.”

  5. Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Home Affairs and Co-Chairman of the SYSD Committee said, “While there are existing programmes that are in place to develop youth sports, the establishment of the Satellite Centres for Sports Development will make more sports accessible to our children and youths. The sports programme offered by the satellite centres will enable our youths to further advance their involvement in the sport, should they have the passion and flair for a certain sport. Their participation in the programme will also develop them holistically as it will not only equip them with sports skills, but also impart soft skills and values such as friendship, respect and sportsmanship.”

  6. The Satellite Centres for Sports Development programmes will be coordinated and managed by the respective National Sports Associations (NSA) of the Olympic sports. With the exception of sailing, each satellite centre will put participants through a 10 to 12-week beginner level programme to get them acquainted with the sport and pick up the basic skills needed to participate in the sport. For the sailing programme, participants will be offered a half-day introduction course to the sport.

  7. Interested individuals will have to register through the respective NSAs to participate in the programme. Participants will be required to pay a nominal fee for each sport programme. The programmes will be delivered by qualified coaches identified by the NSAs. After completing the entry level programme offered by the satellite centres, participants can continue on to the intermediate and advance level programmes offered by the respective NSAs.

  8. For more information on the Satellite Centre Sports Development programme, please visit www.singaporesports.sg/SCSD.

Annex A - About the Satellite Centre For Sports Development Prog

For media enquiries, please contact:
Hazwani Hasni
Executive
Media and Public Relations
Singapore Sports Council
Office: 6500 5246
Email: hazwani_hasni@ssc.gov.sg

Ng Chin Chye
Corporate Communications Executive
Corporate Communication Division
Ministry of Education
Office: 6879 6110
Email: ng_chin_chyei@moe.gov.sg

Jose Raymond
Deputy Director
Media Relations and Social Media
Singapore Sports Council
Office: 6500 5289
Email: jose_raymond@ssc.gov.sg

About the Singapore Youth Sports Development Committee
Formed in 2008, the Singapore Youth Sports Development Committee (SYSD) comprises members of from the MCYS, MOE, the Singapore National Olympic Council, National Sports Associations (NSAs), Singapore Sports Council (SSC) and the Singapore Sports School. The committee aims to bring together key stakeholders who share a common passion to develop youth sports and raise the overall youth sports participation through strengthening the sports system, catalyse a sporting culture and perform well at the Youth Olympic Games in 2010.

About Singapore Sports Council
Formed in 1973, the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) is tasked with developing a holistic sports culture for the nation. The SSC creates opportunities for people to excel in sports; opportunities for people to be engaged in sports as, coaches, officials, volunteers or fans; and opportunities for people to do business in sports as sponsors and investors. The SSC has changed the way Singaporeans view and participate in sports. Through sports, we now have an enhanced national identity thanks to our sports participation programmes; greater national pride as a result of high performance results at international and regional games; and more diversified economic stability through our vibrant sports industry initiatives.

To find out more, visit our website www.sportsingapore.gov.sg
Join SSC on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/singaporesports
Join Singaporesports.sg on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/livebetterthroughsport
For a range of photographs, search for “Singapore Sports Council” on www.flickr.com/photos/ssc-sportsphotography

About Let’s Play
Let’s Play is a nation-wide movement by the Singapore Sports Council to encourage everyone in Singapore to embrace sports as a lifestyle choice. Sports, while also fun, offers health and social benefits. Let’s Play seeks to connect, energise and enrich everyone from all walks of life through the many aspects of sports, be it playing, watching, cheering or volunteering. For more information on Let’s Play, please visit www.sportsingapore.gov.sg.