March 06, 2020, 01:54 PM
From Apr. 1, Singaporeans aged 65 and above will have free access to all ActiveSG swimming pools and gyms.
This was announced by Grace Fu, Minister of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), on Mar. 6 during the Committee of Supply debates.
Senior citizens to enjoy free entry to ActiveSG pools & gyms
Today, seniors pay S$0.50 and S$1.50 for entry to the pool and gym respectively.
MCCY will review the age criterion from time to time, in keeping with the trends and life expectancy of Singaporeans, Fu said.
Meanwhile, existing gyms are progressively being retrofitted with senior-friendly equipment, with these roll-outs aiming to be completed by 2026.
"Sports and physical activity will allow our seniors to sustain their health and mobility longer, and continue to be engaged in the community," Fu said.
By 2030, Singapore will have approximately 900,000 seniors, with one in four Singaporeans being at or above the age of 65.
Team Nila Silver Champions scheme
According to MCCY, the Team Nila Silver Champions scheme will be launched on Apr. 1 to encourage seniors aged 60 and above to stay active and engaged with their communities through sport volunteerism.
Under this scheme, senior volunteers will be given training through SportSG and WSQ courses, and assigned roles at ActiveSG Sport Centres to promote sport and exercise.
There will also be opportunities for inter-generational interaction, as there are plans for Team Nila Silver Champions and Team Nila Youths to be trained together as ActiveSG ambassadors to engage their communities and raise awareness for ActiveSG programmes.
Other initiatives
Other initiatives SportSG has undertaken to encourage more seniors to get active include the following partnerships:
- Wellness Kampung for seniors to take part in activities at the nearby Yishun Swimming Complex.
- Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) to train the Centre Managers and staff of Senior Activity Centres, and bring programmes and activities such as modified sports, strength testing and walking analysis to the seniors.
- Admiralty Medical Centre to offer fitness and health assessments so seniors can understand their physical and health parameters better. Active Health Coaches from SportSG also conduct weekly sport and exercise health sessions for the Kampung Admiralty residents.
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