FORMULA ONE RACE

FORMULA ONE RACE:

(Promotion and development): 14.

Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports with the impending Formula One (F1) race in September (a) how will the F1 race benefit the promotion of motor sports in Singapore; (b) whether more funding will be made

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available to Singapore motor sports associations for the promotion and development of motor sports locally; and (c) whether there are any plans for fringe activities to involve the local community to engage the visitors.

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): Mr Speaker, Sir, the inaugural F1 race will bring many sporting benefits to Singapore. It will raise public awareness and create greater interest in motor sports. It will also catalyse long-term plans by the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) to establish Singapore as a motor sports hub and a choice venue for major international sports events.

Hosting the F1 race in Singapore will also benefit our local motor sports fraternity in the form of knowledge transfer and capability building. Through its involvement in activities such as marshal training for the F1 race, the Singapore Motor Sports Associations (SMSA) will gain hands-on experience in managing the F1 race. This will help them develop capability in hosting other major sports events.

SSC has been working with the SMSA to build up the local sports scene. One key project is the request for proposals from the private sector interests to construct a permanent racing track in Changi. It will allow us to host a regular calendar of motor sports events as well as help develop a pipeline of skilled drivers who can take part in motor sports competitions. In addition, the SMSA and the People's Association have co-organised, and it is ongoing today, the K1 Community Karting Series to bring safe and enjoyable karting to the grassroots and the community. SSC has also supported two aspiring and talented young racers to compete in the ROK International Karting Finals in 2007. They

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are 18-year old Mohamad Nasri bin Nazir and 12-year old Liam Gout.

The People's Association is also planning to organise a night mass walk along the F1 race circuit. This mass walk is targeted at families and aims to generate public interest. This will be a good opportunity for the community to take part in the route's cityscape backdrop and appreciate the drivers' skill in negotiating the city circuit.

Dr Lim Wee Kiak (Sembawang): Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for his comprehensive answer. I would like to ask what kind of resources has been provided to SMSA since the announcement of F1 race in Singapore to promote motor sports in Singapore. Would there be more fundings given? Apart from the infrastructure development in the Changi area, would there be more infrastructure developments elsewhere in Singapore as well?

Mr Teo Ser Luck: For the first question on whether there were additional resources to be invested in SMSA, certainly, because with the F1 race, SMSA plays a very integral part in organising the F1 race. Apart from training its marshals and some of the volunteers, we are also looking at having different experts to come in to train our officials of SMSA and also to encourage them to organise more community events that will promote motor sports throughout Singapore. For the SMSA funding that is under review right now, we are looking at motor sports as one of our key sports disciplines that we want to actually invest in, especially with the F1 race that will be organised in the next five years. Apart from the location in Changi, we are also looking at other places as well for karting and the consideration that we have today is we need the support from the advisors as

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well to tell us if they are also keen to have a karting circuit in their areas. But at this point in time, we would like to focus on the priority which would be the Changi race circuit and, thereafter, we would look at other possibilities around Singapore.

Dr Lim Wee Kiak: Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to ask the Senior Paliamentary Secretary whether, in his opinion, what kind of timeline would be given to SMSA to beef up their capacity or capability so that they can host and organise the entire F1 event in future.

Mr Teo Ser Luck: It will take time. If they can live up to the expectation and they can train and move themselves up to the expectation of organising F1 race, I think certainly we would let them take over as soon as possible. But I think at this point in time, they know what they are lacking. There are a lot of gaps to be covered. We would like to give them some time to learn and I think as long as they take the time to learn and to be able to equip themselves with the necessary skillsets and when they are ready, it will be handed over.