FOREIGN SPORTS TALENT SCHEME

FOREIGN SPORTS TALENT SCHEME

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(Update): **

6.

Ms Joscelin Yeo asked the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (a) what is the present ratio of local national athletes to athletes brought in through the Foreign Sports Talent (FST) scheme in each of the core sports; and (b) whether his Ministry sees a need to set a minimum ratio to ensure that local athletes are given an opportunity to develop and represent Singapore before the spot is taken by an athlete who comes through the FST scheme.

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan: Foreign Sports Talents (FSTs) currently constitute approximately 4.6% of the total number of athletes in the Youth, Development and National squads of the seven key sports: Athletics, Badminton, Bowling, Football, Swimming/Waterpolo, Table Tennis and Sailing. The detailed break-down for each of the sports is presented in the following table:

Sport: |

National Team/National Development Squad/Youth Team athletes: |

Total no. of FSTs: |

Percentage:

(%): ---|---|---|---

Athletics

|

194

|

1

|

0.5

Badminton

|

97

|

19

|

19.6

Bowling

|

57

|

0

|

0

Football

|

120

|

6

|

5

Table Tennis

|

85

|

11

|

12.9

Swimming

|

116

|

1

|

0.9

Waterpolo

|

50

|

1

|

2

Sailing

|

126

|

0

|

0

Total

|

845

|

39

|

4.6

The FST policy is guided by three principles; (i) openness to global talent; (ii) fairness in treatment of FSTs and local-born athletes; and (iii) ensuring the integration of FSTs into Singapore society. My Ministry does not see the need to set a ratio on the number of FSTs in each sport. Each FST application is processed individually by my Ministry and the Singapore Sports Council (SSC), and MHA’s final approval is required for athletes to gain Permanent Residency and subsequent Singapore citizenship. We would only recommend an FST for approval if our assessment is that the FST will help raise the overall standard of play in Singapore, thus benefiting the entire sports ecosystem. We also ensure that the respective National Sports Associations formulate a systematic programme to enhance opportunities for local born athletes to fulfil their potential. The elevation of standards and availability of sparring partners will certainly benefit our local-born athletes who are groomed for international competition at the highest levels.

To give greater focus to the development of local youth athletes, the Singapore Youth Sports Development Committee jointly set up by MCYS and MOE in September 2008 is currently working on broadening the participation base of local youth athletes, identifying and nurturing talent at an early stage, and greater exposure to competition.