DRAGON BOAT TRAGEDY IN CAMBODIA

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DRAGON BOAT TRAGEDY IN CAMBODIA

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(Findings of Safety Inquiry Panel): **

43.

Dr Teo Ho Pin asked the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (a) whether the Ministry is satisfied with the findings of the Safety Inquiry Panel on the dragon boat tragedy that took place in Cambodia in November 2007 and what lessons were learnt from the tragedy; and (b) what measures will the Ministry take to prevent further drownings in water sports.

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan: I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the families who have lost loved ones in this tragic incident in Cambodia on 23rd November 2007. The Singapore Sports Council (SSC), at the request of the Singapore Dragon Boat Association, commissioned a safety inquiry on the incident. The objectives of the inquiry were, first, to establish the sequence of events and contributing factors that led to the dragon boat incident; and, second, to recommend preventive measures to reduce the risk of similar incidents in the future. The inquiry was led by Mr Bernard Tan and included experts from the sports, safety and legal fields.

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The Panel has done a thorough job in assessing the factors that led to the accident. We agree with the inquiry’s assessment that a combination of factors led to this most unfortunate incident. The inquiry panel has also issued sound recommendations to enhance safety in dragon boating. This included compliance with the international federation’s guidelines on the organisation, conduct and safety of such races, and putting in place a proper selection and training system.

We agree with the panel’s recommendations. Since the release of the Safety Inquiry’s report, SSC has been working with the Singapore Dragon Boat Association to implement the recommendations, which would be progressively extended to cover other water sports under National Sports Associations (NSA). SSC is also developing a safety framework for event organisers and NSAs. This framework comprises components such as the safety policy, rules and regulations, risk assessment and checklists. A guidebook is also being developed to assist event organisers be mindful of the safety do’s and don’ts in organising events, programmes and competitions.

It is the responsibility of the NSAs, sports officials, coaches and athletes to be familiar with safety and risk management standards set down by the international sports federations, and to implement these standards accordingly during sports activities and competitions. SSC has since conducted one round of risk management with the NSAs and will follow up with future sessions. There is always an element of risk in sports and accidents can and do happen. Sensible precautions and a sense of responsibility, both personal and collective, need to be ingrained into everyone involved with sports.

Every life lost is one too many. We must foster a culture where all Singaporeans think safe, play safe, and stay safe, so as to ensure that similar tragedies will not happen again in the future.