SINGAPORE: Local sports fraternities believe athletes will gain from the government's plans to anchor major global sporting events in Singapore. 

The move will expose national athletes to world-class competitions, allow them to play against international competitors, and build Singapore's brand as a sports tourism destination, said observers.

Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced plans to bring more sporting events to Singapore in his Budget speech last Friday (Feb 16).

One such upcoming event is the World Aquatics Championships in 2025.

Singapore Aquatics president Mark Chay said the nation’s swimming community is abuzz with anticipation of the competition, which is being held in Southeast Asia for the first time.

“It will be great exposure for our local athletes or aspiring athletes to see what the world standards are,” he said.

“When you bring the world to Singapore, there is an opportunity to have thought leadership, and symposiums and conferences to share knowledge at various levels.”

TRUST IN SINGAPORE’S CAPABILITIES

Mr Chay said Singapore's selection shows the trust international organisations have in the country’s ability to host large-scale events, even with a short turnaround time.

Next year’s edition of the championships was originally awarded in 2019 to the Russian city of Kazan. Last February, World Aquatics relocated the event to Singapore in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

This gives the city state just two years to organise the sport’s largest event. Over 2,500 athletes from 200 countries are expected to descend upon Singapore’s shores next year to compete across the six aquatic disciplines of swimming, diving, high diving, open water swimming, artistic swimming, and water polo.

Mr Chay added that hosting such events will expose Singaporeans to less common disciplines and encourage more people to pick them up.

“For example, artistic swimming and water polo are arguably not the popular sports in Southeast Asia. But if we bring the world's best to Singapore, future generations of athletes would know that this is the standard, and this is what they should be striving for,” he said. 

MORE EVENTS IN THE WORKS

Aside from aquatics, there could soon be more opportunities for other national sports associations to host international meets.

DPM Wong said in his Budget speech that many Singaporeans want to support national athletes, and the government will provide them with more platforms to do so.

Athletes have welcomed the move, saying that competing on their own turf, where families and friends can easily be present to cheer them on, provides a homeground advantage.

“To be able to play in front of the home crowd is definitely a happy thing,” said national badminton player Loh Kean Yew.

“For the local players, it is a chance for them to show themselves to the Singapore crowd, to let them showcase how they have prepared for the tournament. It's a good time for them to shine.”

SPORTS FACILITIES LACKING 

Sports business analyst James Walton said Singapore ticks all the boxes to be a regional sports tourism hub.

Political and economic stability, safety, sustainability initiatives and well-connected transport and telecommunication systems give the island state an edge over its neighbours, he said. 

However, a lack of facilities may be a hurdle. 

For example, while Singapore boasts a large number of Olympic-length swimming pools, many do not meet the depth requirements for international tournaments, said Mr Chay.

Mr Walton, who is the sports business group leader at Deloitte Asia Pacific, said: “The key for the next couple of years is to continue to develop our venues. The Kallang Alive project and the new management of the Sports Hub have been big steps in the right direction.

“Continuing to host those events puts Singapore on the map… in terms of the development of Singapore as a sporting venue and also as a development centre for athletes… this also has an economic effect by bringing in tourists.”

The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth is expected to share more about the plan at the Committee of Supply debate.