Singapore’s sports industry to get $25 million through the Sports Resilience Package

With the sports industry facing setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Singapore Government has channeled $25 million into the Sports Resilience Package to support the self-employed and businesses in the sector.

During a Parliament sitting on March 8, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Edwin Tong, announced that $2.5 million of this budget will go towards establishing a new Self-Employed Person (SEP) project grant to support sports freelancers. 

This new grant is capped at $25,000 per application for sports or fitness freelancers who want to develop projects related to enhancing Singaporeans’ health and wellness.

Mr Tong said during his speech: “We recognise the important role that many sports freelancers and self-employed persons play, and we want to support you.”

The other $22.5 million will go to expanding the existing Enterprise Innovation and Capability Development Grant, focused on developing the sports industry.

This grant will be extended over five years to strengthen sport enterprises’ technological capabilities, upskill sports professionals, and stimulate research and development of sport fields.

With the extension of the Training Allowance Grant from April to March 2022, sport coaches taking up CoachSG courses beyond their Continuing Coach Education hours will receive an allowance of $7.50 per hour.

The Structured Mentorship Programme focused on promoting a mentorship among coaches will also be extended until March 2022. Mentees will receive a monthly allowance of $400, while mentors get $600 a month over a course of six months.

The Government is also aware of harassment and inappropriate behaviour in sports, thus a Safe Sport Programme was introduced. To tackle all kinds of misconduct from sexual to online harassment, the Safe Sport Commission aims to promote positive values and practices in sports.

“No sportsperson, male or female, should feel unsafe as they train, compete or play any role in sports. We also need to address emerging trends such as cyber bullying and online harassment,” Mr Tong said.

Additionally, the ‘Unleash the Roar!’ project was also announced, in hopes of increasing Singaporean youth’s interest and opportunities in football. Read more about it here.