DISCIPLINE FOR INTERNATIONAL SPORTING EVENTS HELD IN SINGAPORE
Parliament of Singapore · 23 November 2009
Official Report, 23 November 2009, Vol 86, Issue 13 · Open in the reader (summaries, search, filters)
DISCIPLINE FOR INTERNATIONAL SPORTING EVENTS HELD IN SINGAPORE
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(Government intervention): **
47.
Dr Ong Seh Hong asked the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports whether the Government should be involved in the disciplinary process when match rigging of an international sporting event takes place in Singapore.
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan: The rules of competition are set by the international sports federation that convenes the sporting event. All athletes and officials are expected to scrupulously comply with all the rules in order to ensure a fair competition. These values, attitude and behaviour lie at the heart of sportsmanship.
The international sports federations also establish the relevant processes for investigation of complaints, dispute resolution and disciplinary action, if warranted, against offenders. It is not appropriate for governments to be involved in these internal disciplinary processes.
Nonetheless, if a specific complaint is lodged, the relevant enforcement agencies will investigate whether a criminal offence has been disclosed. The Attorney-General’s Chambers will then assess whether there is a case for prosecution in our courts.
Source: Singapore Parliament Official Report (Hansard) for 23 November 2009. Republished on SGParliament.