By Koh Yizhe/Red Sports
Kyle Jeffers, formerly of the Singapore Slingers, lending a helping hand at the basketball tryouts. Basketball is one of over 20 sports and fitness activities that residents can sign up for. (Photo 1 © Joseph Lee/Red Sports)
Over the last three weekends, the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) rolled out the first stage of the Super Sports Club with a series of open houses in the west of Singapore.
Residents in Jurong West, Choa Chu Kang and Jurong East were invited to try over 20 different sports and fitness activities and join the Super Sports Club with a free trial membership.
The Super Sports Club, one of the key recommendations of Vision 2030, aims to give residents outside of the school and private club systems a chance to train and play sports competitively.
At this stage, the Super Sports Club is inviting residents to join and provide feedback before the official launch of the Super Sports Club next year.
“The idea of these open houses is to expose residents to more sports and understand better what they want before the Super Sports Club opens next year,” explained Mr Lim Teck Yin, the chief executive officer (CEO) of SSC.
“So far the response looks promising and the interest is high. We are trying to meet the potential demand and give every child an opportunity to try all kinds of sports. They can decide what they want to specialise in later but for now, they should try all kinds of sports.”
“We not only target children but we hope parents could get involve too. For adults, we hope for them to make sports a daily habit. Our aim of having it in the heartlands is for participants to have affinity with their community,” added Mr Lim.
This first wave of members will be given special discounts for sports courses at Jurong West, Choa Chu Kang and Jurong Sports and Recreation Centres. while free entry into swimming pools will also be available at these locations. The trial membership will last from now till December 31, 2013.
18-year-old Wong Zhun Siong found out about the open house while at the gym in Clementi and decided to make a trip down to Choa Chu Kang with his brother to try out the sport of tennis.
“I have never tried tennis before and thought it would be fun to try a new sport,” said the Ngee Ann Polytechnic student. “It is really interesting though it is hard to play! I have signed up for the trial on membership and will definitely consider coming back and trying other sports.”
With over 20 sports on offer, ranging from dance-sports like Zumba and line-dancing to in-line skating and the more popular sports like football and basketball, there was something for everyone at the open houses.
Kyle Jeffers, formerly of the Singapore Slingers, was at Choa Chu Kang to lend his coaching expertise to the enthusiastic little ones who were trying their hand at basketball for the first time.
“I think this is an excellent initiative by the SSC,” declared the American.
“It aims to get the community more active and that is what Singapore needs. I hope the kids are able to get something out of the open house and eventually be successful basketball players.”
For more information, go to: Super Sports Club
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