S'pore Sports School set to combine with 2 sports bodies to better support S'pore athletes

The Singapore government will combine the Singapore Sports School, Singapore Sport Institute (SSI), and National Youth Sports Institute (NYSI) into a single entity as part of efforts to streamline support for athletes in Singapore.

This was announced during the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY)'s Committee of Supply debates in parliament on Mar. 10.

"While the sports school will remain as a school and retain its brand and identity, this consolidation will more closely integrate sports school with the rest of the High Performance sporting ecosystem," said Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong in parliament.

New sports entity

SSI and NYSI will first integrate and form a new sport institute from Apr. 1, 2025.

The new sport institute will come together with the Singapore Sports School "at a later date", MCCY said.

MCCY added that the change will help streamline the three sports bodies' functions into a more seamless support framework for youth and senior athletes, and provide better continuity of support in their sporting journey.

The new entity will also be able to establish a core of sport specialists — such as in sport science, athlete life, and sport management — and strengthen partnerships with national sports associations.

Integrated national training centre in Kallang

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said previously in his 2024 National Day Rally speech that the Singapore Sports School, currently at Woodlands, will be relocated to Kallang.

MCCY said on Mar. 10 that an integrated national training centre will also be developed in Kallang, with the Singapore Sports School serving as the "education arm" of the sports ecosystem there.

This is part of the Kallang Alive Masterplan, announced in 2019, to transform the precinct.

PM Wong previously shared that the government will bring together the national training centres for several key sports, and will introduce new and improved sports science and sports medicine facilities in the vicinity.

MCCY said that beyond infrastructure, the government will strengthen support for athletes to make sport a viable career, and give them assurances on their employability and post-retirement needs.

More details will be shared about the new sports entity at a later date.

Top image from Singapore Sports Institute/Facebook, Google, & National Youth Sports Institute/Facebook