S$54,000 raised for rower Joan Poh’s World Champs bid; funding remains hurdle for Singapore athletes

Sports observers said NSAs and athletes should work together to attract and manage corporate sponsorships rather than relying solely on government funding. 

 

Former national athlete and sports administrator Nicholas Fang said the funding challenges faced by athletes today were similar to those he encountered while representing Singapore in fencing two decades ago. 

 

“Most of our athletes have to juggle a number of priorities … school, national service, career, family … there’s lots of competing demands,” he told CNA. 

 

The former Nominated Member of Parliament said athletes and sports bodies have a role to play in making themselves attractive to potential sponsors by demonstrating the value they can offer businesses. 

 

“Athletes and federations need to figure out how to create value for companies and sponsors,” he said. “(For example) exposure in terms of social media … tailoring content that would be beneficial and put sponsors in a good light and … warrant a level of support that would be useful to the athletes as well.” 

 

With sporting standards rising globally and within Southeast Asia, funding will increasingly matter if Singapore wants to remain competitive, he added. 

 

BALANCING SPORT AND CAREER 

 

Money, however, is only one side of the equation. 

 

With many national athletes holding full-time or part-time jobs, carving out enough time for training and overseas competitions can be another significant obstacle. 

 

“Very often, we have to find our own way. Taking time off, using up leave for competitions … a lot of athletes accept that that’s part and parcel of the commitment and sacrifice to pursue sport,” Fang said. 

 

For the national rowers, the demands on both time and money can be particularly acute. 

 

Poh said athletes need to spend extended periods training overseas in cooler climates, which provide conditions unavailable in Singapore. That means not only higher expenses, but also more time away from work and other commitments. 

 

“We make plans based on how much money we are able to raise to decide how many amongst us can have the same opportunities. For example, we had to exclude some (rowers) from some races and training camps because of a lack of fundings,” said Poh.