Singapore’s intensified development of sports tourism gets strong backing from statutory board Sport Singapore, which recognises the far-reaching benefit of this ambition – it inspires a more active nation, elevates sports-focused professionalism, creates jobs, attracts related business activity, and more, details CEO Lim Teck Yin
The events calendar that we aspire for the participation or enjoyment of local sports fans are a natural draw for tourism as well. We thus work closely with the Singapore Tourism Board to not only curate the events portfolio, but also the fringe activities that provide a total experience in and around the venue. Singapore’s vibrancy and energy promises that there will never be a dull moment!
Singaporeans, like tourists, attend sport events that they believe will provide them a not-to-be-missed opportunity to see the stars and enjoy good quality sporting action. At SportSG, we seek to create such opportunities through a range of mass participation to world-class spectator events.
For example, we work with our partner Ironman Asia to enhance the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon (SCSM) race experience from year to year. That includes a great race expo, improved routes and atmosphere, inspiring elite participation, and engaging workshops. This has not only made it a must-attend event for runners in Singapore, but has also attracted growing international participation with each edition.
The pandemic did not see the SCSM come to a standstill. The races incorporated virtual and augmented reality components for the first time in 2020, and again in 2021, even when physical participation was reintroduced.
Through the SCSM’s Virtual Running Club, overseas runners could choose from a selection of virtual routes that took them through iconic sights of Singapore, such as Little India and Orchard Road, as they ran the race. Local runners were also able to participate at several SportSG sport centres that set up a network of official race treadmills.
In the same spirit, SportSG continued to work with event promoters and rights holders through the last two years to stage events in Singapore, notwithstanding the tough Covid restrictions on movement and travel. It has given our partners the confidence and assurance that we are committed to supporting the industry, that we have the capabilities and ability to adapt to and be agile under prevailing circumstances, and that we are emerging with a strong innovation mindset.
SportSG also capitalised on the downturn caused by the pandemic by offering a generous Innovation Grant to support the deployment of technology solutions for hybrid events, fan engagements, and more. The focus on engaging event experiences continues unabated as we emerge from the pandemic.
Finally, it is important to highlight that SportSG continues to be on the lookout for marquee events that have the potential to engage new fans, new athletes, and new commercial opportunities. One recent example is our bid for the World Athletics Championships 2025. Singapore25 represents a unique opportunity to host one of the world’s most prestigious sporting events and advance the sport of athletics into an untapped region. The legacy for participation here and the sport industry is expected to be very significant.
These are all major sporting events. Is SportSG also positioning Singapore as a desirable hub for smaller, local and regional events?
Local and regional events are important to Singapore’s sport development, giving our athletes opportunities to build competitive experience. They also give spectators a variety of platforms to support and cheer on Team Singapore on home ground. This is complemented by a comprehensive calendar of local leagues and competitions that focus on pathway development and recreational sport. They are an integral part of the formula in keeping Singaporeans participating, competing, and cheering.
The pandemic had set back many of these events. So, at the earliest opportunity in December 2020, we worked on a pilot to bring spectators back to the Singapore Premier League matches, learning and calibrating from the experience.
Since taking that first step, regional events have made a strong comeback. Between December 2021 and March 2022, Singapore hosted the AFF Suzuki Cup in December 2021, SEA Pencak Silat Championships in February 2022, and FAS Tri-Nations Series in March 2022. While Covid restrictions were still in place, we also encouraged modified leagues and competitions for our youth to fuel their interests.
Is SportSG also looking at attracting global sporting associations to be located or headquartered in Singapore, to encourage even more sports-related events and meetings to be hosted here? What progress is SportSG making in this effort?
The presence of global sporting associations in Singapore is a welcomed addition to the sporting ecosystem. Their activities would include international meetings and conferences, sport events, and sport development programmes. These benefit local administrators, officials, coaches and athletes; and in many instances open up employment opportunities that would upskill the local workforce, and position Singapore well as a regional hub.
Singaporeans who aspire to work abroad in the global sport ecosystem would then also find that the referrals and experience gained here would give them a leg up.
Given our stage of development as a regional sport hub, SportSG is in discussions with several parties on the prospects and opportunities to partner and collaborate on these fronts.
Is SportSG encouraging or facilitating the development of more sports facilities across Singapore that will cater to future sports events demand and possibilities? Or is the massive Singapore Sports Hub enough at this point?
The objectives behind sport facilities development in Singapore go beyond the facilitation of events. Like a balanced portfolio of sporting events, well-designed facilities are essential to cater to the wide range of sporting interests and to provide access and opportunity to a lifetime participation in sport.
The Sports Facilities Master Plan (SFMP) is a key foundation of our Vision 2030 sport master plan. The four tiers in the portfolio of facilities range from international competition-grade venues to free-to-play neighbourhood sport parks. In particular, the five regional sport hubs will complement the Singapore Sports Hub when hosting major games. These regional hubs and various other specialised facilities will also cater to the needs of national training centres for Team Singapore.
A key tenet of the SFMP is to match urban planning parameters for housing development and land-use optimisation. The latter includes opening all school sport facilities for community use on the weekends.