PUBLIC SPORTS FACILITIES

PUBLIC SPORTS FACILITIES: **

(Extension of opening hours): **

29.

Mr Baey Yam Keng asked the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports whether the positive outcome of the pilot run to extend the opening hours of Queenstown Stadium will be applied to other public sports facilities and, if so, how this will be applied.

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan: Singapore Sports Council (SSC) stadiums are currently open from 4.30 am till 8.30 pm daily. The opening hours were calibrated to maintain reasonable utilisation. In response to residents’ feedback, SSC has initiated an ongoing trial to extend the opening hours of Queenstown Stadium. Under the trial, the stadium is opened up to 9.30 pm.

From October to December last year, a daily average of only 10 visitors was recorded between 8.30 pm and 9.30 pm, compared to 28 visitors during 7.30 pm to 8.30 pm timeslot. As an effort to improve the utilisation of the Queenstown stadium, SSC worked with grassroots leaders to increase publicity and also engage various sports interest groups to organise more activities in the evening.

As the trial with the Queenstown Stadium is still ongoing and has yet to yield conclusive results, it is premature to apply the extended opening hours to other public sports facilities. Where there is strong demand, SSC will consider extending the opening hours. Meanwhile, SSC will continue to work closely with grassroots organisations to meet the sporting needs of the residents.

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