SSC unveils names of members on inquiry panel
By Patwant Singh, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 04 December 2007 2158 hrs

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SINGAPORE: The Singapore Sports Council (SSC) has revealed the names of the members who are sitting on the panel of inquiry, which is looking into last month's dragon boat tragedy.

Five Singaporeans died when their boat capsized after a dragon boat race in Cambodia on 23 November.

The panel is made up of representatives from various organisations.

They are:
1. Brigadier General Bernard Tan Kok Kiang, Ministry of Defence
2. Mr Fan Yue Sang, Senior Manager, Systems Engineering Competency Centre, DSTA
3. Ms Delphine Fong, Deputy Director, Sports Safety, Singapore Sports Council
4. Dr Benedict Tan, Head of Sports Medicine Division, Changi General Hospital
5. Mr Tan Chee Meng, Senior Counsel, Wong Partnership
6. Mr Woon Sian Hai, Retired-Commander, Police Coast Guard

Brigadier-General Tan, who is the chairman of the panel, said the dragon boat incident had impacted the sports fraternity and the inquiry panel would work to determine the factors that led to the tragedy.

He added that the panel would also recommend preventive measures to avoid similar incidents, both in Singapore as well as when Singaporeans participate in overseas events.

Singapore fielded a team for the first time in the annual race in Cambodia's Tonle Sap River. After completing the race, the Singapore boat capsized when returning to shore.

Five rowers died and the tragedy has raised questions about safety, as the athletes were not wearing life vests.

The SSC hopes the panel's findings will help to prevent accidents in future overseas sporting events.


- CNA/so