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SINGAPORE: A 12-member committee has released a detailed report on how to make sports in Singapore safer.
Key among its five recommendations is health screening for participants before entering a sport event.
The Sports Safety Committee said that in making the recommendations, it studied existing international guidelines but adapted them to suit local needs.
The committee was formed in June this year by the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, after a spate of sudden deaths involving athletes who took part in endurance events.
The committee recommended compulsory health screening for professional athletes, and voluntary screening for those who represent schools and clubs. And for those who do sports for recreation, it could be just about filling up a questionnaire.
Another recommendation is public education - so that more people know about sports safety, first aid and can recognise symptoms.
The committee also suggested that sports facilities be equipped with the necessary hardware and personnel who know what to do in an emergency.
Also important is the medical coverage for sports events. This should depend on factors such as the risk, size, location and participation skills of the athletes.
The final recommendation covers surveillance, evaluation and follow-up on all the measures introduced.
The committee also suggested setting up a central repository of data.
The recommendations will be introduced in phases.
The committee noted that there could be some resistance to its ideas, especially because costs will be incurred.
Dr Benedict Tan, chairperson of the Sports Safety Committee, said: "I would like to view costs at the institutional or facility level. If you look at the cost of equipping all sports facilities in Singapore with AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators), it might look daunting.
"But if you look at the cost of one NSA (National Sports Association) providing an AED for its own NSA, one facility, it's only S$3,000."
The cost of an AED has gone down over the years. But the Ministry for Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS), is considering giving assistance, including roping in the people and private sector to help.
Teo Ser Luck, Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development, Youth and Sports, said: "I think we are considering some different programmes, or even funds.
"We are now reviewing... the opportunities... where we can do that, how to incentivise the organisers to have full coverage, or if you make it mandatory, how to help them."
The Singapore Sports Council (SSC) says it will help implement and supervise the latest guidelines.
Oon Jin Teik, CEO of the SSC, said: "Today, what we have is that all our SSC facilities are equipped with AEDs... they are well supported by staff – there are 477 staff who are CPR, first aid and AED trained."
He added that his goal is to get all SSC staff trained in at least CPR by the end of this fiscal year.
Some events, like the Osim Singapore Triathlon and the Aviva Half Ironman race, have already incorporated some of the Sports Safety Committee's recommendations.
More sports events, including the Wakeboard World Cup this weekend, have pledged to take up the enhanced safety measures.
Paul Fong, general manager of Singapore Waterski and Wakeboard Federation, said: "We have more medics onshore, we have more lifeguards, we have towers where we can monitor (the situation) both onshore and on the water.
"Our responsibility is not only to take care of the athletes out there on the water but also the general public and guests who come and watch the event."
Next week, the SSC will launch a month-long online public consultation to get more feedback on the recommendations. - CNA/ir
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