Singapore's Culture Ministry Says Country's Sports Associations To Receive $20M Boost

Singapore's Ministry of Culture, Community & Youth (MCCY) will provide S$25M ($20M) over the next five years "to support developmental plans and innovative ideas," according to David Lee of the NEW PAPER. This sum "is separate from the annual grants" national sports associations receive, and "may be activated at any time of the year." MCCY Minister Lawrence Wong announced an investment of S$1.5B ($1.2B) "to implement the first phase of the Sports Facilities Master Plan." Team Singapore athletes will receive S$60M ($47M) over the five years. This "includes grants for training and loss of wages, and funding for the Sports Excellence Scholarship programme." Wong recently revealed that "a special fund will be set up for athletes with medal potential but who are not SpexScholars to prepare for next year's South-east Asia Games and ASEAN Para Games, which Singapore will host." This support "will be made available for athletes who want to train full-time for the 2015 Games" (NEW PAPER, 3/14).