SINGAPORE - This year's Singapore National Games (SNG) will truly be a national affair.
Organisers on Friday (July 22) announced that over 10,000 athletes have signed up to take part this year - a 20 per cent increase from the previous edition in 2014.
Joining the weekend warriors and everyday Singaporeans will be some 90 current and former Team Singapore athletes including SEA Games volleyball women's captain Quek Soo Teng, SEA Games floorball champion Syazni Ramlee, Asean Para Games gold medallist Jason Chee and 2016 Paralympian Toh Sze Ning.
The national multi-sport competition, which will include Para sports for the first time, features 488 events across 21 sports, with some events kicking off on Sunday.
Held at 15 locations across Singapore, the SNG2016 will provide members of the community an opportunity to watch high-quality sports entertainment at no cost.
Mr Lai Chin Kwang, chairman of the Organising Committee of GetActive! Singapore, said: "The Singapore National Games was set up to encourage the true essence of sport - high-quality sporting competition played with mutual respect and fair play.
"In this year's iteration, we'll get to see members of the public, with diverse levels of experience, battle it out against our national athletes - some who won medals at the 28th SEA Games and 8th Asean Para Games, and also a Paralympian.
"In the spirit of competition, budding talents and sports enthusiasts have the opportunity to challenge themselves with the Singapore's best. This in itself makes for a fantastic sporting spectacle for all members of the community in the lead-up to celebrating National Day."
Beyond watching the SNG, members of the community will also get an opportunity to try out new sports, and put their sporting skills to the test in a series of public challenges - such as Singapore's fastest football dribblers, longest badminton ralliers, floorball's most accurate shooters - at the SNG competition venues.
All challenges are open to the public and premiums will be given away as prizes. Most of the public challenges are free of charge. Members of the public can sign up on the day itself.
"The public challenges offer the community an opportunity to get involved in various sports, whether it's testing out their skills, or learning new ones, whilst having fun and winning prizes. From more traditional to Singapore sports like hockey and badminton to newer ones archery and floorball, there's really something for everyone all over Singapore," added Lai.
The SNG2016 takes place from July 30 to Aug 7 as part of GetActive! Singapore, the week leading up to Singapore's 51st birthday, that will consist of sports festivals, ground-up initiatives and competitions island-wide.
For more information, results and schedules, go to
https://www.myactivesg.com/getactivesingapore/singapore-national-games
