Singapore Swimming Association delivers funding support for aquatics athletes and coaches

The Singapore Swimming Association (SSA) has held a fundraising dinner to provide targeted additional discretionary funding to boost athletes’ performances and to build coaches’ and clubs’ capabilities.

SSA Vice President for Partnerships, Alvin Hang advised “our aquatics athletes have dared to dream over the last five decades, defied odds, proved naysayers wrong and brought a nation to their feet cheering. Working with our partners and sponsors, we are always finding more ways to support our athletes to dare to dream.

"In 2016, we recognised the need for additional financial support over and above annual grants. We set up a fund that enabled us to be nimble in providing targeted additional discretionary funding to boost athletes’ performances, build coaches’ and clubs’ capabilities.”

SSA advise that since then, funds raised from the last fundraiser have been used to support over 50 athletes in their endeavours. For example, the funds have been used to send the women’s water polo team and the artistic swimming pair for overseas competitions for more match exposure to hone their match readiness. Athletes who want to give back in the form of professional coaching after they retire from active swimming are also given a helping hand to help them transition smoothly and upskill themselves.

SSA President Lee Kok Choy added "this year, we have raised more than $400,000 to date and it would not have been possible without generous corporate and individual donors. As we continue to build this fund over the years, we look forward to their continued support to enable our athletes to dare to dream.”

An additional $20,000 was also raised by Team Singapore national athletes in the disciplines of swimming, water polo, diving and artistic Swimming, by encouraging dinner guests to purchase Raffle Tickets.

The funds raised can be used to apply for 1 for 1 matching grants under the One Team Singapore Fund (OTSF) subject to the criteria spelled out by Sport Singapore and final approval after evaluation.

The funds raised will be used to support the following programs:

1. Education and Career support
2. Competition opportunities overseas
3. Access to Sports Science and medicine
4. Coach/athlete development
5. Pathway development
6. Workshops and clinics for parents
7. Data analytics and information
8. Training environment infrastructure and software
9. Management Capabilities

The dinner was attended by Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing along with more than 400 guests from the sports fraternity, corporate partners, as well as past and present stars of the different aquatic discipline. Former stars included Pat Chan, Joscelin Yeo, Tao Li, Tan Eng Bock, Lim Teck Yin and Alan Heng.

SSA will be hosting the FINA Water Polo Challengers Cup in October as well as the FINA Diving Grand Prix in November before their athletes head off to the SEA Games from 30th November to 11th  December 2019 in Philippines.

Image: Minister for Trade & Industry Chan Chun Sing posing with Team Singapore sporting stars and legends (past and present) at the fundraising dinner courtesy of  Singapore Swimming Association