FLOORBALL
Story by Muhammad Hannan. Pictures by Shaun Chook. © Red Sports
Tampines West Community Service Club Sports Hall, December 31st, 2007 – January 1st, 2008 – Over 300 floorball players welcomed the New Year doing what they enjoy most – playing floorball. In an event organized by Tampines West CSC, 70 floorball teams took part in the first ever 24-hour floorball match from 12 p.m. on Monday, December 31st, 2007, to Tuesday, 12 p.m., January 1st, 2008. It was a first-of-its-kind attempt in Singapore aimed at getting into the Guinness Book of World Records, a Singaporean obsession of sorts.
With 70 teams playing, it was not just good physical exercise but an administrative one well. Red Sports sat down with with the chairman of the Tampines West CSC Dick Hui to find out more.
Red Sports: So how did you set up the fixtures for such a challenging attempt?
Dick Hui: All 70 participating teams were split into 2 teams – Red and Blue. To further balance out the matches, different time slots were given to different categories. We started the day off with the primary schools followed by the secondary school students. The games played after consisted of older players from junior college, tertiary and also Club teams."
Red Sports: Why did Tampines West CSC decided to hold such an event and why floorball?
Dick Hui: Tampines CSC is the most active CSC and we have won the Gold Award for the last two years. We see this competition as a last-minute surge to claim a third successive Gold Award. We also aim to promote school sports with this event. The reason as to why we picked floorball is simple. It’s an easy sport to play and anyone can take part. All you need is a floorball stick and ball. With its relatively easy to play nature, families can get together to watch their sibling or child play which hopefully creates a stronger bond. In addition to the above, we want to encourage kids playing the game from young.
Red Sports: Given the number of players that have signed up, do you see this as a sign of the game’s growing popularity?
Dick Hui: Yes, definitely. Look around and you see only smiling faces and kids having alot of fun. We took extra care to ensure a fun environment and not one where players were at each others throats. Enjoyment was the most important factor for this event. We also added a fun-game section with a shooting board where if players managed to hit into the holes they could get discounts on products that are on sale in the event.
Red Sports: What about the future? Planning to hold a similar event in the future?
Dick Hui: Why not? We might try other sports or the same but gun for 48hours. There's a belief here at Tampines West CSC where nothing is impossible.
Hi there. I am actually in the middle of dooing a school project and by coincidence, I am doing on floorball. I am really interested in knowing more about this 24 hour floorball event. I would like to know details such as the Organisers, Sponsors, the programmes and activities for the event. This details would really help me to do my project. I will look forward to your reply. Keep up the good work in posting and updating all the events that has been happening in Singapore. Especially in sports.