Wan Rizal on motion calling for clear and achievable goals for sporting success

“Community sports are the cornerstone of our sporting ecosystem”, said MP Wan Rizal in Parliament on Thursday (Jul 6). It is where local champions like Fandi Ahmad, Joseph Schooling and Shanti Pereira got their starts. However, community sports also cultivate a sporting culture and bolster social cohesion, he said. Dr Wan Rizal called on the Government to continue investing in local sports facilities and increase funding for community-level coaching programmes. It should also support emerging sports that resonate with youths, such as floorball and tchoukball. With regards to football, he said that to uplift standards, Singapore first needs to grow a broad base of participation. It also needs a high-level competitive league that local and regional players can aspire towards. He urged a review of what more can be done for the Singapore Premier League. Dr Wan Rizal concluded by saying he supported the motion brought by the Workers’ Party calling for clear and achievable goals for sporting success - but, with reservations. He said the motion did not take into account the indispensable role that communities play in Singapore’s sporting journey. It also does not fully align with his perspective of sporting success - that it is not just about sport, but about shaping a resilient, inclusive society.