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Straits Times
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Two participants injured after another breached safety protocol during Pesta Sukan archery event
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Two participants were injured after a "breach of protocol" during the Pesta Sukan archery competition at the Bukit Gombak Stadium on July 13. SINGAPORE – Two participants required outpatient treatment after they were injured by an arrow during a scheduled break at the Pesta Sukan archery competition at Bukit Gombak Stadium on July 13. Preliminary assessment by Sport Singapore (SportSG) indicated that a participant 'breached safety protocols' by loading a bow in the gallery. The arrow was then accidentally released. The Straits Times understands that all three participants involved in the incident are aged between 17 and 20, and the two victims 'suffered minor injuries', understood to be cuts which did not require stitches. Both participants were treated by on-site paramedics and have completed outpatient treatment. Safety measures, including a pre-event safety briefing, were in place for the competition. When contacted, a SportSG spokesperson said: 'An incident occurred this morning during a scheduled break and was due to a breach of safety protocols by a participant. 'When the incident occurred, prompt medical assistance was provided on-site and the competition was immediately halted. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Govt will continue to support families, including growing group of seniors: PM Wong at PCF Family Day Singapore From Normal stream to Parliament: 3 Singapore politicians share their journeys World Israeli strikes kill over 40 as truce talks deadlocked, says Gaza civil defence Singapore Segregated recycling bins found to lower contamination rate as more spring up Asia Mahathir discharged from hospital after feeling fatigued during birthday gathering Business 29 Jollibean workers get help from MOM, other agencies, over unpaid salaries Singapore Medics treat 7 after blaze at HDB block lift lobby in Chai Chee Singapore I lost my daughter to Kpod addiction: Father of 19-year-old shares heartbreak and lessons 'During this safety pause, all team managers and participants were re-briefed with added emphasis on the importance of adhering to safety protocols. Safety is of paramount concern to SportSG. 'We are reviewing the incident, and will assess if further measures are needed to enhance safety and safeguard the well-being of all participants.' The Pesta Sukan is an annual event in Singapore, with participants competing in over 30 sports. The 2025 edition runs from June to September. The archery competition took place on July 12 and 13, with several teams competing across 14 categories.
Straits Times
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Forum: SportSG committed to quality and sustainable sports facilities
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox We thank Mr Kelvin Chua Cher Wei for his letter ' Do more to nurture track and field athletes ' (June 18) and suggestions to improve Singapore's sport facilities. As part of the Sports Facilities Master Plan (SFMP), Sport Singapore (SportSG) will continue to develop new infrastructure and rejuvenate existing facilities across the island while adopting environmentally responsible practices. Bukit Canberra and Kallang Tennis Hub have received the Green Mark Platinum certification, with the latter also achieving the highest-tier Green Mark Platinum Super Low Energy certification. We have implemented climate-responsive measures to manage Singapore's warm and humid climate more sustainably, including treated window glass to minimise heat penetration, energy-efficient ventilation systems, and more sheltered spaces. Additional hydration points were also installed at Kallang Practice Track following recent track replacement works. These efforts further enhance overall users' experience and comfort at our facilities. Moving forward, upcoming and renovated facilities are planned to meet the Green Mark Platinum Super Low Energy certification. At the National Day Rally last year, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong outlined our vision for Singapore's next bound of sporting excellence. Enhancements to the Kallang Alive precinct embody our commitment to strengthen our sport culture. These include a new home for Team Singapore that will bring sports administrators, and sports science and sports medicine professionals under one roof to provide comprehensive athlete support. Beyond infrastructure, the Government continues to strengthen its support for our athletes through initiatives like the spexScholarship programme and the spexEducation Undergraduate Scholarship. In April 2025, the Singapore Sport Institute and National Youth Sports Institute merged to form the High Performance Sport Institute (HPSI) – a key step towards a more integrated athlete support system from youth to senior levels. In the coming years, HPSI and the Singapore Sports School will consolidate into a single entity, providing clear pathways for athletes to pursue both academic and sporting excellence. We are also embracing technological innovation to enhance athlete support. This includes using virtual reality (VR) to help athletes simulate competition venues and practice performance strategies in a controlled environment, whilst overcoming logistical and physical constraints. We appreciate Mr Chua's interest and support for Singapore's sports development, and hope that his encouragement of his children's sporting interests inspires others to do the same. Lim Hong Khiang Chief, Sport Infrastructure Group Sport Singapore
CNA
10-07-2025
- Sport
- CNA
'Looking positive' that temporary facility for World Aquatics Champs will remain for some time: SportSG chief
SINGAPORE: Authorities are optimistic that the temporary facility to be used for several events at the upcoming World Aquatics Championships will remain for some time, said Sport Singapore chief executive Alan Goh on Thursday (Jul 10). Speaking at the event's opening press conference, Mr Goh gave what is the clearest indication so far that the facility which was built in the car park next to the Leisure Park Kallang mall will be available for public use. "Indeed, we started out building pools that's temporary, again taking reference from past editions of World Aquatics (Championships)," said Mr Goh, who is also co-chairperson of the championships along with former Olympian Mark Chay. "But as we progressed the project along, we also started to think about whether it made sense to try to explore ways of keeping the pool beyond (the) duration of the championships. And that is looking positive." While he stopped short of confirming the move, Mr Goh said that authorities are hoping that Singaporeans will benefit from the arena as well. "We will share the confirmation when it's ready, but I'll just say that ... having built a nice facility which is hosting world-class aquatics competition events, we do look to keep it for a little longer and then have Singaporeans benefit from (being able) to use the place," he said. The World Aquatics Championships will be held in Singapore from Jul 11 to Aug 3, with about 40,000 international visitors – comprising spectators, athletes, officials, production crew and media expected. A new 4,800-capacity arena, which was built in the car park next to Leisure Park Kallang, will host the championships' swimming and artistic swimming events. The water polo and diving competitions will be held at the OCBC Aquatic Centre, while the high diving and open water swimming events will be held in Sentosa. In February, then Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth Eric Chua said that authorities were also studying the possibility of using the temporary facility as a training and competition venue for other meets and for athlete training, and of making it available for public use. "FANTASTIC FACILITY" Speaking on Thursday, World Aquatics president Husain Al Musallam thanked organisers for their "hard work and difficult work". "Singapore is the first country in Southeast Asia hosting the World Aquatics Championships, with a fantastic facility. And the facility is (a) continuation of the legacy of the Youth Olympic Games in 2010," he said. What the world swimming body is looking out for is that venues must be "fit" for technical requirements and for the seating capacities of venues to be "based on the experience" of what the host nation expects, added Mr Al Musallam. Singapore was picked as the host after the biennial event was relocated from the Russian city of Kazan in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The championships feature the six disciplines of swimming, water polo, diving, artistic swimming, open water swimming and high diving. Among the big names expected to vie for top honours in Singapore are American legend Katie Ledecky, France's hotshot Leon Marchand and 18-year-old Canadian swimming sensation Summer Mcintosh. The main competition pool measures 50m by 26m and has a depth of 3m. Foundation work for the venue began in December last year, with construction taking place from January to May this year. The pool is significantly deeper than the 2.15m La Defense competition pool at last year's Paris Olympics, which had been criticised by some for being too shallow, resulting in fewer records broken. The facility made use of the starting blocks from the Paris Games, with pool temperatures kept at a constant range of 25 to 28 degrees Celsius. And this makes it a "very nice pool to swim in", said local Olympian Gan Ching Hwee. Gan, who holds multiple national records, will be part of the 72-strong home contingent set to compete at the meet. "Feels like a fast pool ... I really love the lighting and how the sound of everyone's cheers (echoes) through the arena – it's very motivating," said Gan, who was in the stands at the venue to catch the Southeast Asian Age Group Aquatics Championships last month.
Straits Times
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Swimming records expected to tumble at World Aquatics C'ships arena in Singapore
The newly-constructed WCH Arena, one of the competition venues for the World Aquatics Championships. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG SINGAPORE – Fans can expect record-breaking feats at the July 11-Aug 3 World Aquatics Championships (WCH) in Singapore, as event organisers give the media a first look and back-of-house tour of the WCH Arena on June 16. Built in Carpark G near the Kallang Tennis and Kallang Football Hub, the main attraction of the sheltered, purpose-built facility constructed by Kin Productions is the long-course pool which will host the swimming (July 27-Aug 3) and artistic swimming (July 18-25) events. A warm-up pool with the same dimensions is located in a separate block. Measuring 50m by 26m with a depth of three metres, the competition pool is notably wider and deeper than the Paris Olympics' temporary pool at the La Defense Arena, which was one metre narrower and had a depth of 2.15m. At Paris 2024, there were four new world records and 17 Olympic records. There is a realistic prospect of more record-breaking feats here, as swimmers tend to prefer a deeper pool because the increased depth reduces water turbulence and calmer waters generally result in faster times. The pool of the newly-constructed WCH Arena. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG Foundation work for the WCH Arena began in December 2024, and construction was done from January to May. With a seating capacity of 4,800, there is a compact feel to the facility, which is about one-third of the size of temporary facilities constructed for recent world championships. At the 2024 edition in Doha, Qatar, swimming and artistic swimming were hosted inside the 15,500-capacity Aspire Dome, while in 2023 swimming was held at the 15,000-seater Marine Messe Fukuoka Hall A – part of the Fukuoka Convention Centre – with average daily attendances ranging from 3,000 to 5,000. Singapore's WCH Arena stands out for its red seats and red OSB11 starting blocks, which are the same as those used at Paris 2024. The seats are positioned at a 32-degree angle, providing spectators with a better viewing experience. This differs from the standard 17-degree angle which is typically adopted for spectator seats at other events in Singapore. Four 14m by 3m screens above the spectator seating and a 29m by 3m bigger screen on the south wall will display results and replays, with 46m by 1m screens along the length of the pool for sponsors' logos. The stands of the newly-constructed WCH Arena. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG The venue will also have a fan zone with interactive activities, merchandise areas, sponsors' booths, and food and beverage stalls. At the one-year countdown to the WCH in 2024, Alan Goh, 2025 World Aquatics Championships organising committee co-chairperson and chief executive officer of Sport Singapore, had said that 'there are many factors we took into consideration when selecting the venue'. The 50,000-seater National Stadium was initially mooted as the venue for swimming but in January 2024 it was reported that swimming and artistic swimming could instead be held at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Six months later, organisers revealed that a temporary facility would be built instead. Goh said then: 'Of course, National Stadium and Indoor Stadium were (involved in discussions) as well. But when we had discussions with World Aquatics, it was clear that the National Stadium with its 50,000 capacity is way over the typical attendance for the event. 'So on balance, and having considered factors such as cost, factors such as downtime of the Indoor Stadium and National Stadium, the decision was best to hold the events in the Aquatic Centre and build a very nice facility in Carpark G.' The temporary facility could be used as a training or competition venue for local and regional meets before and after the championships, he said. The Straits Times understands that one consideration is for Singapore Aquatics to use the venue to prepare for competitions such as the 2029 SEA Games held here, while the Toa Payoh Swimming Complex is currently being renovated. The pool of the newly-constructed WCH Arena. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG Over 2,500 athletes from more than 190 countries and territories will compete in the six aquatic disciplines at the world championships. The water polo and diving events will be held at the OCBC Aquatic Centre, while Sentosa will host open-water swimming (Palawan Beach) and high diving (Palawan Green). The June 19-29 Southeast Asia Age Group Aquatics Championships, a youth aquatics competition comprising over 500 athletes from across the region, will serve as a test event for the WCH. The swimming (June 25-27) and artistic swimming (June 20-22) will be the first competitions held at the WCH Arena, while water polo (June 19-22) and diving (June 27-29) will take place at the OCBC Aquatic Centre. David Lee is senior sports correspondent at The Straits Times focusing on aquatics, badminton, basketball, cue sports, football and table tennis. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
CNA
13-06-2025
- Business
- CNA
Kallang Basin Swimming Complex, St Wilfred Sport Centre to close; sites being studied for new public housing
SINGAPORE: The Kallang Basin Swimming Complex and St Wilfred Sport Centre will cease operations in the second half of 2025 when their leases expire, Sport Singapore (SportSG), the Housing and Development Board (HDB) and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) jointly said on Friday (Jun 13). The swimming complex at 21 Geylang Bahru Lane will close on Sep 1 while the St Wilfred site in Whampoa will close on Oct 1. Both locations offer ActiveSG sports facilities, with St Wilfred currently housing a tennis centre, squash centre and a football field, while the swimming complex also has a gym. Plans for the potential redevelopment of both sites for public housing are under study, according to SportSG, HDB and URA. 'This is part of our ongoing efforts to address the strong and broad-based demand for housing in recent years,' the agencies said. 'As part of our long-term planning efforts, the government will also continue to develop and enhance sports infrastructure, working closely with the community to meet Singapore's evolving lifestyle and recreational needs.' ALTERNATIVE SPORTING OPTIONS While the Kallang Basin and St Wilfred sites are due to close in the next few months, the agencies said that those in the community will have alternative options such as a new sports facility in Kolam Ayer as well as another facility in Whampoa, which is set for completion by end-2025. Residents can also continue to access nearby existing facilities, such as ActiveSG swimming complexes at Serangoon, Geylang East, and Jalan Besar, and Kallang ActiveSG Squash Centre, Burghley ActiveSG Squash and Tennis Centre, and Kallang Tennis Centre. They may also use certain sports facilities at Bendemeer Primary School and Bendemeer Secondary School under the dual-use scheme. "These facilities have long served residents and the sporting community well, and agencies are committed to working closely together to bring alternative sporting amenities closer to homes, including new sport-in-precinct facilities in Whampoa and Kolam Ayer," said the agencies. As part of the Sports Facilities Master Plan (SFMP), the number of ActiveSG facilities across Singapore has increased by 30 per cent since 2013. More facilities are being developed, including Farrer Park Town Play Field, Queenstown Sport Centre, Ang Mo Kio Swimming Complex and Punggol Regional Sport Centre, according to the agencies. 'SportSG, together with other relevant agencies, will also continue to explore opportunities to inject recreational spaces and sporting amenities into future residential neighbourhoods,' they added. 'These efforts support SFMP's vision of enabling majority of our residents to access affordable and inclusive sports facilities within a 10-minute walk from their homes by around 2030.'
