PARTICIPATION IN SPORTS AMONG FEMALE POPULATION

Mrs Lim Hwee Hua asked the Minister for Community Development what measures are being taken or being contemplated to promote participation in sports among the female population, especially at the community and recreational level.

The Minister for Community Development (Mr Abdullah Tarmugi): Sir, participation of women in sports and physical fitness activities has grown considerably since the launch of the Sports For Life Programme by the Prime Minister in 1996.

Under the Sports For Life Programme, the Singapore Sports Council administers fitness tests and organises the Learn-to-Play programme. Between September 1996 and December 1996, a 4-month period, 763 women participated in the Sports For Life Fitness Assessments. For the whole of 1997, the number jumped to 15,968 and more than doubled to 42,674 in 1998. Women make up 55%, indeed a majority, of fitness test participants. Women's participation in the Learn-to-Play Schemes has also increased, from 19,237 in 1996 to 27,735 and 40,145 in 1997 and 1998 respectively.

At the community level, women are encouraged to use the ClubFITT gymnasium facilities available at the Regional Sports and Fitness Centres. In 1998, there were 143,922 female users. This is up from 9,635 in 1996 and 88,200 female users in 1997.

At the national level, the Singapore Sports Council, together with the People's Association Women's Executive Committee Co-ordinating Council, the Ministry of Health, the NTUC Women's Programme Committee and the Singapore Council of Women's Organisations (SCWO) will be organising the third National Sports Carnival for Women on 6th June 1999. We anticipate that this event will attract 13,000 women participants.

To further emphasise the promotion of women in sports, the first Women and Sports Conference was held in Singapore in March this year, during which Singapore endorsed the objectives and principles of the Brighton Declaration to increase the participation of women and girls in sports in Singapore. As a follow-up to the Conference, a working group is being established to draw up an action plan to promote the greater participation of women in sports.

Mrs Lim Hwee Hua (Marine Parade): Sir, besides providing venues, would the Minister devote more resources towards developing and promoting regular participation in sports that are popular such as netball, but which are not necessarily designated as core sports?

Mr Abdullah Tarmugi: Sir, the Member may be pleased to know that the Sports Council indeed supports the activities of the Netball Association of Singapore. As Members know, the Netball Association has courts at Kallang and it will be developing a family centre which is close to the courts. That centre is partly funded by the Singapore Sports Council. We will definitely give all the support that we can to the Netball Association of Singapore and to netball as a sport. If I am not mistaken, it is one of the largest women's sports in Singapore, and we are also encouraging it in schools.