SPORTS COURSES AT COMMUNITY CLUBS

SPORTS COURSES AT COMMUNITY CLUBS:

(Standards): 11.

Mr Seah Kian Peng asked the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (a) whether there are sports governing bodies recognised by People's Association (PA) that are conducting courses at various Community Clubs but which are not recognised by the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) or Singapore Sports Council (SSC); and (b) should there be differing safety standards, whether PA will consider adopting those that are stipulated by the sports governing bodies recognised by SSC and SNOC.

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (Mr Teo Ser Luck) (for the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports): Sir, the National Sports Associations (NSAs) are recognised as the governing entities for their respective sports by the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) and the Singapore Sports Council (SSC). They oversee all aspects of the conduct of the sport. There are, however, other organisations such as clubs or associations which operate independently of the NSAs and are not affiliated to the SNOC or SSC.

The People’s Association (PA) currently adopts an inclusive approach when engaging instructors or organisations for courses conducted by the Community Clubs (CCs) and Residents’ Committees (RCs). To cater to the demands of a diverse clientele and to provide more options for participants, the PA’s policy is not to turn down any established groups from teaching in the CCs and RCs, provided they are legally registered and have qualified instructors who are competent to teach. Ninety percent of the sports courses are actually conducted by coaches from NSAs that are affiliated to SNOC and SSC. However, it is not a requirement for these instructors or organisations to be affiliated to SNOC or SSC.

Most of the sports organisations conducting classes in the PA are linked to their own international sport bodies. Each has its own set of safety rules and measures when conducting activities in the CCs and RCs. In addition, PA requires every sports instructor to have a first aid certificate.

Mr Seah may be aware that the PA has just convened a Committee of Inquiry (COI) to study the tragic incident during a recent taekwondo competition organised by the Greenville Residents' Committee. The COI is currently reviewing the safety rules and measures adopted by the different sports organisations conducting classes and competitions in the CCs and RCs. The PA will look into the findings and recommendations of the COI when it has completed its work.

Mr Seah Kian Peng: I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for his answer. I have supplementary questions. I have no objection to an inclusive approach. I would like to ask the Senior Parliamentary Secretary what is the basis for the differences in approach between PA, SSC and SNOC in classifying these associations.

The second question relates to safety standards. I also understand that in the current case, the hearing is in progress. But I would like to suggest that, in the meantime, clearly for physical contact sports, since the safety standards are already there, I do not know whether PA should immediately consider adopting them. They could still refine them pending the outcome of the Committee of Inquiry.

Mr Teo Ser Luck: There is basically no reclassification or classification of club associations. It is just that some sports clubs are affiliated to the National Sports Association; some are not. It is a matter of option, depending on whether they want to participate in international competition, like the Olympics or inter-club competitions that are endorsed or sanctioned by the NSAs. PA adopts a more inclusive approach in that it allows different sports clubs to conduct the courses that residents might favour. When there is demand, they will allow the clubs to conduct those courses. But I take the point which Mr Seah has brought up, that safety is of paramount importance and we must make sure that we have stringent regulations of the highest safety standards. PA is actually reviewing all the safety regulations, including those recommendations from the Sports Safety Committee. Between two sets of rules that are different, they will adopt the more stringent one in the future for any competition that is conducted under PA.