New initiative, SportCares, will give the poor access to facilities, coaching
By Lua Jia Min, The Straits Times, 26 Aug 2012
A new initiative to help the needy by introducing them to sports kicked off yesterday with a charity football tournament and a gala dinner.
The initiative, SportCares, is also the first recommendation under Vision 2030 to be put into action.
Vision 2030 is a national sports masterplan initiated by Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Chan Chun Sing last year.
Speaking at the dinner held at the Singapore Recreation Club in Connaught Drive last night, Mr Chan, who is also Senior Minister of State for Defence, said the tournament underscored the "commitment of both the private and public sectors to use sport as a force for social good".
The game was organised by the Singapore Sports Council (SSC), the Football Association of Singapore, Singapore Pools, and Singapore Recreation Club.
A total of 28 teams took part in 93 matches played over eight hours.
Among the six MPs who took part in the matches were Minister of State for Trade and Industry Teo Ser Luck and Speaker of Parliament Michael Palmer.
Among the six MPs who took part in the matches were Minister of State for Trade and Industry Teo Ser Luck and Speaker of Parliament Michael Palmer.
The tournament raised a total of $350,000, including $30,000 from Singapore Pools for SportCares.
Beneficiaries included Jamiyah Children's Home and Ren Ci Hospital.
The SSC said SportCares will help needy Singaporeans through sports by giving them access to sporting facilities and coaching.
In a press statement, it said it had added one more recommendation to provide support for new forms of recreational sport - such as paintball and cheerleading - to the Vision 2030 masterplan, bringing the total number of recommendations to 20.
"We are exploring ways to help new forms of sport grow," said SSC chairman Richard Seow, who added that such activities must be inclusive to promote community bonding and national pride.
Last night's gala dinner was also attended by President Tony Tan Keng Yam.
ABOUT VISION 2030
Vision 2030 is a national masterplan for sports announced by Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Chan Chun Sing in July 2011.
Its aim is to use sports as a tool for personal development, community bonding and nation building over the next two decades.
Its committee made 19 recommendations in a preliminary report in February after conducting surveys over a seven-month period.
Yesterday's addition to promote new forms of recreational sports brings the total number of recommendations in the finalised Vision 2030 to 20.
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