Scheme to help needy students in Tampines pursue sports

SINGAPORE — A sports programme to enable students from lower-income families in Tampines to pursue rugby, air rifle, swimming, bowling and netball was launched today (Jan 18).

With a S$1 million sponsorship from billionaire Peter Lim, the Active Tampines-Peter Lim Community Sports Programme aims to draw 400 participants per year over five years. 

The initiative currently has 29 participants in swimming, rugby and air rifle, said Tampines East citizens’ consultative committee member Benny Yeo. Numbers for bowling and netball are being finalised.

The five sports in the scheme are those that students from the lower-income group may not otherwise have the opportunity to participate in, said Mr Yeo. The programme’s sponsorship will cover registration and coaching fees, as well as attire and equipment costs.

The initiative began with its rugby component last August and the students have been heading to Raffles Institution every Sunday for training, tapping an existing programme under the Raffles Rugby Union. 
The search is on for a suitable field in Tampines to conduct rugby training, said Mr Yeo. 

Implementation of the programme in the other four sports will begin this month or next. Students from the primary to tertiary level may apply, although the different sports are open to different age groups. 

Schools in Tampines have been encouraged to submit applications for their students living in the constituency and those interested may enquire at community clubs in the area, said Mr Yeo.

The programme aims to develop students’ physical and social skills, so they can eventually mentor others. The organisers also want to make sports a part of the future Tampines Town Hub, added Mr Yeo.

The initiative, which Mr Yeo said had come about through a meeting between Mr Lim — who has a controlling stake in Spanish football club Valencia — and Tampines Members of Parliament Heng Swee Keat and Mah Bow Tan, was launched by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Grace Fu today during a ministerial community visit to Tampines East.

CORRECTION: In an earlier version of this article we reported that "With a S$1 million sponsorship from billionaire Peter Lim, the Active Tampines-Peter Lim Community Sports Programme aims to draw 400 participants over five years.” However, it should be “With a S$1 million sponsorship from billionaire Peter Lim, the Active Tampines-Peter Lim Community Sports Programme aims to draw 400 participants per year over five years.”