News

Singapore Sports Council's New National Sports Association Funding Model 
Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 12:00 AM

In the light of kick-starting FY2006's budgeting cycle, the Singapore Sports Council's Chief Executive Officer Mr Oon Jin Teik spoke to officials from National Sports Associations (NSA) at a networking session today about its new model for funding. The soon-to-be-implemented funding model will not only give NSAs more autonomy to chart their strategies and run programmes, but also drive NSAs to focus on outcomes and results in order to achieve the Sports fraternity's collective vision for 2010.

2. Built on past learning as well as similar models adopted in countries such as New Zealand and the United Kingdom, the new and improved funding model was developed in consultation with the fraternity and encompasses fundamental but critical principles which will take the Singapore Sports one step closer towards its goals.

3. Focused on the three strategic thrusts of promoting High Performance (HPE), nurturing High Participation (HPA), and enabling Industry Development (ID), all of which are interdependent, the funding model takes an "outcome-based" approach. NSAs are urged to be more discerning and strategic when developing programmes for their sport, as programmes will henceforth be evaluated, prioritised, and funds allocated based on their alignment to the three strategic thrusts.

4. Said Mr Oon, "Resources are limited, that is why we - both NSAs and the SSC - have to prioritise and channel resources into programmes which can create optimum impact and contribute most to the CoSS objectives.

5. "Many of you have recently embarked on an exercise to chart out the strategic direction for your Sport - that was important. This is the next step to drive us towards achieving the right results. We're almost at the half-way mark to 2010, we need to push ourselves a little harder, and fine-tune our approach where we can. This new and improved model will give you the strategic tool to achieve your objectives," he added.

6. The new funding model will allow NSAs greater flexibility and autonomy to utilise its budget, hence empowering them to manage its funds. In addition, it encourages NSAs to strategise long-term programmes to reap sustained results.

7. To increase the business viability of Sports so that it can be more self-sustaining, NSAs were urged to explore and tap on other sources of funds available in the private sector, to enlarge the "pie" of funds for the fraternity as a whole. With regards to this, the SSC will play an important role in enhancing NSAs' capacity and capability to raise funds, as well as aggressively seeking out new opportunities and partners in the commercial sector.

8. "Every NSA is the primary agent to drive and develop a particular Sport. Therefore, at the end of the day, every member of the fraternity - whether big or small - must grow itself and emerge a stronger player. Only then will Sports in Singapore thrive," concluded Mr Oon at the Networking Session.

9. Focus group sessions with NSAs were held in May to gather feedback towards the funding model. Following today's session, workshops will be held in early September to familiarise NSAs with the operational details of the new funding approach. Budget submissions by NSAs will close on 31 October 2005.

*For more information on the Committee of Sporting Singapore (CoSS Vision), please refer to url - http://app.mcys.gov.sg/web/sprt_towards_committeesporting.asp .