Minimising Impact of Haze on Athletes' Training

The following question stood in the name of

Mr Nicholas Fang: – ****

28 To ask the Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth what are the measures in place to help Singapore athletes cope with the impact of haze on their training and competition, especially with the 2015 Southeast Asian Games scheduled to take place in June, which is typically when transboundary haze affects the region.

Mr Lim Biow Chuan: Question No 28.

The Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (Mr Lawrence Wong): Mdm Speaker, we recognise the disruptions that the haze would bring to the training of our athletes. My Ministry and the Singapore Sports Council will continue to work closely with our National Sports Associations and event organisers to mitigate any impact. The goal is to ensure that training can continue without compromising health and safety. One recent example is the Lions XII team – their training sessions were switched from the Jalan Besar Stadium to an indoor futsal facility and gym when the haze was at its worst in Singapore. Similarly, the Volleyball Association of Singapore used the air-conditioning at Toa Payoh Sports Hall during the national team's training sessions.

For the 2015 SEA Games, which will be held from 5 to 16 June, the SEA Games Organising Committee is working out contingency plans to deal with any haze-related situation. The numerous learning points on managing the haze situation from the past few weeks will be taken in and applied. I should clarify that transboundary haze is an issue during the dry period between June and October, and not just an occurrence that "typically" happens in June, as mentioned by the Member. We cannot predict or say for certain what will happen in 2015. But we will certainly do whatever we can to engage our neighbours and manage the issue upstream, through various regional forums which have been highlighted by the Environment and Foreign Affairs Ministers as well as through the SEA Games Federation, so that the SEA Games in 2015 can proceed smoothly.

Mdm Speaker: Order. I propose to take the break now. I suspend the Sitting and will take the Chair again at 4.25 pm.

Sitting accordingly suspended

at 4.05 pm until 4.25 pm.

Sitting resumed at 4.25 pm

[Mdm Speaker in the Chair]: ####

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS: Resumed.