Latest news with #teamBonding
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
England stars enjoy day at F1 Spanish Grand Prix as Thomas Tuchel takes squad on team-bonding trip
THOMAS TUCHEL has taken his England stars to a team bonding session at the Formula One Spanish Grand Prix The Three Lions manager, the players and backroom staff arrived in Barcelona on Sunday morning before heading straight to the F1. 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 The vast majority of the 26-man squad have not been to the F1 before, and after the race, they will go to nearby Girona for a training camp. As they arrived many of the stars were seen posing for pictures with fans. Most stars wore shades and loose-fitting shirts for the occasion, although Chelsea talisman Cole Palmer seemed to still be too cold in the Spanish sun as he took the paddock wearing a jumper. Arsenal pair Bukayo Saka and Myles Lewis-Skelly joined their team-mate with zipper jackets, though the teenager later removed it. Meanwhile, Tuchel was all-smiles seen as he was pictured at the track wearing a cap. The squad posed for a picture alongside F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali as he welcomed the footballers into the mad world of motorsport. Many of them were also invited into team garage's before the race. Skipper Harry Kane was among the stars seen being given a tour of Red Bull's garage as he posed for snaps alongside team mechanics, while the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White, Dan Burn and Ollie Watkins posed for a picture next to the car. Chelsea's Conference League winning trio Reece James, Noni Madueke and Trevoh Chalobah were seen at the Mercedes garage, while James was also part of a group including Jude Bellingham and Eberechi Eze who took in some hospitality with McLaren. The Papaya constructor later shared a post of Kane taking a selfie with their car, which they no doubt hope will give them some more good luck after drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris scored P1 and P2 in Saturday qualifying. Fernando Alonso overheard taking sarcastic swipe at old rival Lewis Hamilton after blunder ahead of Spanish Grand Prix England will remain in Girona until next Saturday when they return to Espanyol 's ground in Barcelona for a World Cup qualifier against Andorra. Tuchel, who has handed a first senior call-up to Chelsea's Trevoh Chalobah, decided to avoid St George Park's next week and instead, spend the whole time in Spain. This is to get used to the heat ahead of next year's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The temperature in Barcelona and Girona is expected to be around 26C, although that is still not as warm as many of the World Cup host cities at this time of year. Next weekend's game was supposed to be in Andorra but the tiny nation's new stadium is not yet ready. After the match, new boss Tuchel and the squad will fly to the midlands to prepare for a friendly with Senegal at Villa Park in Birmingham on June 10. Under Tuchel, England won their first two qualifiers against Albania and Latvia.
Telegraph
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
My Lions memories: Dangerous new shoes, unbearable snorers and shadowing my rival
The first kitting-out meeting of a British and Irish Lions squad is unforgettable. Putting on the iconic Lions blazer, with its wonderful, embroidered badge, will probably be the highlight of most players' careers. Just handling the training gear and the rest of the Lions clothing are special memories that still spark emotional reactions in me decades later. This proud moment where 'the stash' is given out is usually straightforward – but it does not always go to plan. On my first Lions tour we were each given a shiny new pair of Church's brogues that were so pristine, the lacquer on the soles had not even been scuffed. Unfortunately, as each player left the clothing room you then heard a loud thud, followed by the pained expletive 'Oh s---' as someone slipped and crashed onto the hotel's polished wooden floorboards. We were lucky not to have sustained a few injuries before we had left these shores. The initial meetings of Lions' tours are usually approached by most players with a little nervousness. It does not matter how experienced or successful you have been, this is a new group, facing a new challenge. Meeting opponents against whom you have battled on the pitch and against whom you will be competing for a Test jersey creates a strange set of emotions, all of which have to be broken down and rebuilt by the team's management and coaching staff. It will be interesting to see what Andy Farrell has in store for his squad, but I am certain the issue of team bonding has already been raised and plans to create a distinct tour unity are already in hand. What approach each player takes to the tasks in hand will depend on their individual psyche and what type of bonding exercises they have been exposed to with their clubs and country. It will also test their adaptability and open-mindedness. I took a direct route when it came to challenging for the Test spot on my first tour of Australia in 1989. Irish hooker Steve Smith had been picked by every rugby writer as the probable Test starter, on the basis that the Lions would have to combat the formidable presence of the giant Wallaby hooker Tom Lawton. Stevie was much more powerful than me, but I was fitter and faster, so I took it upon myself to line up beside him in every training session and made certain that I finished in front of him in every drill possible. It was a very personal contest for me (and one I ultimately won). Most players will be used to touring and the little quirks that are potential problems or opportunities depending on how they turn out. I think that, given a choice, most people would prefer to have their own room but that is usually not allowed on tours and for good reasons. Rooming with different players at each leg of the tour means that you must interact with whoever you are paired with. Sometimes this turns out to be an unexpected pleasure and you find out a lot about another player in these unguarded moments. Other times it is an exercise in diplomacy as you have to find a way to have at least a civil relationship with somebody whom you do not warm to. You dread sharing with a snorer and I remember once in Sydney rooming with Scott Hastings. Within 30 seconds of getting into bed he was making such a comical snoring noise I thought he was messing around, but he was actually asleep. I had to fetch the tour manager and, once he realised you could hear him snoring from four doors away, I got another room. From early on in my Lions experiences I learnt that you had to accommodate the ways of thinking that broke along national lines. There is no standard type of national thinking, and none is more worthy than another, but they are different. That can take some getting used to, particularly when viewed from a usually insular English perspective. I am looking forward to seeing if Farrell makes use of music in his team building. During the initial meetings of the 1989 and 1993 Lions squads, we had to learn a medley of four songs, each synonymous with the four home countries, and we would sing that on multiple occasions: before meetings, at official functions and on the team bus. Graham Henry's 2001 Lions used drums, tambourines and maracas to get the players to bond. In 2017, Warren Gatland engaged the services of a musical director and had his players learn songs from the four different countries. You are probably wondering about the relevance of this to touring, but there is research evidence that singing or chanting can produce the same unifying psychological effects to that produced when soldiers march, and that behavioural coordination between groups of people increases cohesion between them. I do not imagine we will have the equivalent of a football World Cup song, but I am sure the boys will be belting out a few tunes.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
11 best escape rooms in Singapore to get lost in adventure
If you are looking for a team bonding activity in Singapore, why not try escape rooms? Escape rooms are adventure games in which players, often in teams, work together to find clues and complete tasks within a themed room to 'escape' within a set time frame. Check out our list of the 11 best escape room games in Singapore to break free from. Trapped Escape Room is one of the largest escape rooms in Singapore. With 7 themes and 25 chambers, it features over 70 props with animatronics and non-playable characters. If you are a fan of enigmatic themes, you have got to try the Ravenhill Asylum Room (3 to 12 pax, 75 mins). The mystery of the disappearance of Alisha, a schizophrenic patient, has led numerous detectives to come by to uncover the truth but to no avail. Players will be tasked with investigating the asylum, where they will find key evidence to crack the puzzle. An off-peak 75-minute game costs S$28.90 from 11am to 6pm on weekdays. A peak 75-minute game is priced at S$34.90 from after 6pm on weekdays and on weekends. Students just have to pay S$28.90/person for a game after 6pm daily. 176 Orchard Road, The Centrepoint, #03-26, Singapore 238843 +65 6994 3430 Daily: 11am – 10pm | | LOST SG's outlet at spans over 2,500 square feet. It features 5 unique escape room games. From their beginner-friendly Alcatraz to their new creation the Mausoleum, you will be challenged with up to 11 other friends. Their outlet can take up to 56 players at a time. If you don't mind jump-scares, try out their Aokigahara 2.0: Mysteries of the Sea of Trees (3 to 12 persons, 60 mins). Enter the shadowy depths of Aokigahara, a dense forest at the ominous base of Mount Fuji, which has become the site of a search after a young schoolgirl vanished. Tasked to find the lost girl, your journey is fraught with peril. An off-peak 60-minute game costs S$23.90 from 11am to 5.30pm on weekdays. A peak 60-minute game costs S$29.90 after 5.45pm on weekdays and on weekends. 1 Selegie Road, #B1-03/04, Singapore 188306 +65 6717 1688 / +65 6255 0095 Daily: 10am – 9.30pm (Last game starts at 9.30pm) | | Xcape Singapore is an escape room provider, offering immersive experiences where players solve puzzles and escape a room. The firm is known for its elaborate sets and engaging plots, making players feel like they are characters in a movie or video game. If you are a sucker for horror games, give their Joker (Haunted) (4 to 8 persons, 75 mins) a go. Rumour has it that inside the dilapidated house lives a wretched, human-devouring clown who feeds on fear. The townsfolk are tormented all year round, so your team has decided to risk your lives to venture into the ancient house and break the curse. An off-peak 60-minute game costs S$24 before 6pm on weekdays, an off-peak 75-minute game costs S$29 and an off-peak 90-minute game costs S$34. A peak 60-minute game is priced at S$30 after 6pm on weekdays and weekends, a peak 75-minute game costs S$35 while a peak 90-minute game will set players back by S$40. 161 Rochor Road, Bugis Street, Singapore 188436 +65 6908 1918 Daily: 11am – 11.30pm | | Inmers is a company that specialises in creating immersive escape room experiences, particularly those with an Asian horror theme. They are known for their advanced game mechanics, intricate designs, non-player characters, and cutting-edge audiovisual effects. They offer the following 2 types of horror escape games: The Medium (4 to 8 Persons, 90 Mins, S$88): The story is adapted from folk stories along the Thai-Myanmar border. A father, who lost his son in a tragic accident, wants to use his wizarding skills to perform a ritual to revive his son. You agree to help him out. Break Through the Soil (4 to 8 Persons, 90 Mins, S$68): A dissembled body is found in Nanshui Village. The suspect is an elderly person. But with the death of the suspect, the only witness is her grandson Stone. Hypnotise Stone and enter his mind. For a full list of locations, refer here. +65 9132 8088 Daily: 11am – 9pm | | The Escape @ Science Centre blends the escape room concept with the wonders of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and a dose of theatricality. The site consists of 3 themes: Museum of Humankind, Shangri-La and Dr. X. Each offers a different world for players to immerse themselves in. Take on the role of the last humans alive, bots trying to flee a glitching metaverse, or desperate people searching for a lost pal. No worries, you can bring your phone into the room. Feel free to snap away and tag them. A ticket costs S$20 from Mon to Wed, S$25 from Thu to Fri and S$30 on weekends. 15 Science Centre Road, Science Centre Singapore, Singapore 609081 +65 6425 2500 10am – 5.45pm (Mon to Wed, Thu & Sun) 10am – 8.15pm (Fri & Sat) | | 101 Best things to do in Singapore – Ideas for tourists & locals [Mar 2025 update] Escapee at KAP Mall Singapore isn't just about escaping from a room—it's about escaping from the ordinary and forging unforgettable memories with friends, family, and colleagues. If you have dreamt of escaping from school, give their Classroom Crisis (2 to 8 persons, 60 mins) a go. In the heart of a bustling city, a menacing threat looms over Central High School. A nefarious individual has planted a bomb within the school, triggering a lockdown. Amidst all the panic, a bunch of unlikely heroes must work together to detonate the bomb. Unfortunately, they don't list prices on their site. You'll have to call them for a reservation. 9 King Albert Park, KAP Mall, #01-47, Singapore 598332 +65 8513 6300 Daily: 11am – 9pm | | V-Room distinguishes itself by offering enchanting virtual reality (VR) escape room games. Their range of games is one of the largest and most varied collections in town. If you are stuck at work on a dreary Monday, a must-try is their Belko (Puzzle). It raises the question: 'What does it take to survive at work?' Players are prompted to work out a series of tricky puzzles to escape from their office before a microchip in their head goes off. Another must-try escape room game is Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes. Here, you find yourself in a room with a ticking time bomb. The catch? Your pals have the manual to defuse it, but they cannot see the bomb. You are going to have to talk it out — and quickly. 1 Maritime Square, Harbourfront Centre, #03-15, Singapore 099253 +65 6988 9467 Daily: 12.30pm – 9pm | | At Captivate Escape Rooms, 8 escape rooms await you. These rooms are brimming with intriguing and amazing challenges. Be the star of your story as your adventure starts here. If you are a fan of Train to Busan, try their Murder on the Singapore Express game. The murder of a Belgian detective in Singapore has captured the world's attention. Buy a ticket to the Singapore Express and solve the clues left behind by the killer at the railway station. If you are a Sherlock Holmes buff, try CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. As the name suggests, you work for the Singapore Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) squad. You rush to the travelling circus to investigate a puzzling death involving the smallest man in the world. Typically, a game costs S$25/person on weekdays and S$32/person from Fri to Sun. 190 Clemenceau Avenue, Singapore Shopping Centre, #06-28, Singapore 239924 +65 6837 0870 Sun to Fri: 11am – 9.45pm Sat: 10.45am – 9.45pm | Lockdown Escape is a reality-first-person adventure game that simulates online room escape games. The player is locked in a room and must exploit the surroundings to flee. If you are a performer at heart, try out their Lockdown VR: Circus of the Dead (2 to 6 players). As an aspiring group of musicians, you have been invited to be a backup for a performance. After entering an abandoned dressing room, strange things start to happen. With your concert starting in an hour, can you escape or be trapped like those before you? A 75-minute session costs S$27 per person on weekdays and S$33 on weekends. 6 Raffles Boulevard, Marina Square, #03-149, Singapore 039594 +65 8081 5160 Daily: 12pm – 9pm | | Established in 2013, The Escape Artist is one of the first providers of real-life escape rooms in Singapore. Throughout these 12 years, they have always sought to deliver the best and most thrilling escape room experiences for people of all ages and various events. If you have a penchant for fine art, a must-try is Gatecrash. In the world of underground art, a collector's home becomes the target for those seeking precious loot. You are one of these people, but your plans are foiled when you trigger a trap and find yourself locked in the basement. You have an hour to escape from the mansion before the collector returns. Typically, a game costs S$24/person on weekdays and S$30/person on weekends. 1 Maritime Square, HarbourFront Shopping Centre, #03-15, Singapore 099253 +65 6988 9467 / +65 8868 9217 (WhatsApp) Daily: 12.30pm – 9pm | | is Singapore's best interactive virtual escape room online. With over 10 rooms to explore, you can work with your team to solve puzzles and uncover the truth. Their themes are relatively unique, including The Vaccine Lab Virtual Escape Room Game (60 to 90 mins). A leading vaccine laboratory has developed a vaccine that will save the world from the pandemic. A research assistant from a rival firm has infiltrated their lab and stolen their immunisation jab. They need your help to recover the booster. For teams of 10 people and above, each person only has to pay S$20. For teams of 2 to 9 people, each person has to fork out S$25. Gameplay lasts for roughly 1 to 1.5 hours, inclusive of a trained facilitator on the Zoom, MS Teams or Webex platform. 7030 Ang Mo Kio Ave 5, #01-25, Singapore 569880 +65 6100 0567 Daily: 24 hours | | 10 activities in JB worth every RM The post 11 best escape rooms in Singapore to get lost in adventure appeared first on
Times
15-05-2025
- Health
- Times
A personality test said I was Darth Vader. I'm so proud
What cake are you? A Battenburg, a baked Alaska with a cool core of logic, or a dependable fruit cake? Which Star Wars character are you? Han Solo, Chewbacca or frank and decisive Princess Leia? These are questions that might be a bit of fun to amuse bored children while stuck in traffic on the M6 but personality questionnaires, which group people into different categories, are used in a surprisingly large number of offices as team-bonding exercises or even in recruitment. Those raising an eyebrow at how sensible this might be have every right to express a Yoda-like scepticism. Last week a judge at an employment tribunal ruled that Lorna Rooke, an NHS worker, had suffered a workplace 'detriment' after she was compared to Darth
