The sporting landscape in Singapore is set to transform further as the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) rolls out more plans to create a more vibrant and thriving scene.
In her speech during the debate on her ministry's budget in Parliament, MCCY Minister Grace Fu announced the building of a new sports centre in Sembawang.
As part of the Sports Facilities Master Plan, residents in Punggol can also look forward to a regional sports centre. Both are expected to be ready by 2021. Existing facilities in Delta and Choa Chu Kang will also be rejuvenated this year.
Ms Fu said: "Under the Sports Facilities Master Plan, we enhance and expand sporting access for Singaporeans through an extensive network of sporting spaces across the country.
"At the regional and town levels, we have opened sports centres at Our Tampines Hub and Heartbeat@Bedok.
"In the next few years, a new integrated sports and community hub in Sembawang will be ready. Details will be announced later this year.
"We will also have new facilities lined up, including new play fields in Yan Kit and Jurong Lake. The latter will be our first 'sport in the park' collaboration with NParks (National Parks Board)."
The Sports Facilities Master Plan is a key initiative of Vision 2030, the national sports blueprint.
It aims to serve sporting needs at the national, regional, town and neighbourhood levels, through new facilities and the redevelopment of existing infrastructure.
Ms Fu also announced six new Sports-in-Precinct facilities in Taman Jurong, Nee Soon Central, Tampines North, Keat Hong, Hong Kah North and Bukit Batok.
The nation's sports movement, ActiveSG, will also be boosted by the creation of eight new academies and clubs, providing affordable and quality training for sports and fitness enthusiasts in aquatics, canoeing, dance fitness, gymnastics, martial arts (aikido, silat and taekwondo), table tennis, volleyball and youth sports.
It follows earlier academies in the fields of football, athletics, badminton, basketball, outdoor adventure, tennis and an interest group for veterans above 40.
"With the launch of ActiveSG in 2014, we saw an expansion of everyday sporting opportunities for all Singaporeans to participate in and bond through sports. We now have close to 1.4 million ActiveSG members on board," added Ms Fu.
"Since 2016, we have launched 10 ActiveSG academies and clubs, reaching out to about 25,000 participants. Besides offering affordable and structured programmes for our children, they also bring families, neighbours and sports enthusiasts from all backgrounds together."
