Singapore set to GetActive! in August
More than 200 activities during week-long sporting festival, starting Sunday
As a grassroots volunteer, Steffan Fung organised a functional fitness challenge for almost 100 residents in Pasir Ris-Punggol last year.
This year, the 36-year-old is bringing the concept to a wider audience under the GetActive! Singapore umbrella, a week-long sports festival from Sunday to Aug 7.
Fung's Red-X programme, where participants complete an obstacle course that involves tyre pulls and chin-ups, is one of 243 ground-up initiatives under the Active Enabler scheme that will take place all across the island during the festival.
"We want to promote functional fitness to the public, which are movements close to day-to-day activities like carrying groceries," said Fung, who also hopes to get young and old Singaporeans to be more active.
National sports agency Sport Singapore received 443 applications under the Active Enabler scheme, which can range from sports-related projects involving only employees in a company, or mass events that involve more than 200 people.
In addition to the ground-up initiatives, the biennial Singapore National Games will be held across 15 locations, with over 90 current and ex-national athletes among the 10,000 people who have signed up.
The curious folks can try new sports or put their skills to the test at National Games sporting venues through public challenges.
TARGET ACHIEVED
Also, sports festivals will be held this weekend and next at 15 ActiveSG sports centres, as well as three community fields in Tampines, Woodlands and Jurong East.
Participants can try sports such as football, tennis and basketball, as well as kampung games.
The Marina Bay area will be transformed into GetActive! By the Bay, where several Active Enabler projects will be located.
Organisers said participation numbers have already surpassed their target of 200,000 for the first year and aim to hold GetActive! Singapore every year.
On the sign-ups, Sport Singapore chief executive officer Lim Teck Yin said at a media briefing at Junction 8 yesterday: "It tells us that people have caught onto the idea very easily... It's something that people want to do and find that it's meaningful to do it.
"But more important than just the number of people who come forward is the innovation (behind the projects).
"We are really heartened by the level of participation, not so much in just saying, 'okay I am here, where do I go?'
"It's more like, 'okay I want to do this for Singapore, let's think of something quite special and quite creative'."
What to expect
SINGAPORE NATIONAL GAMES
More than 10,000 people, including over 90 current and ex-national athletes, have signed up to compete in the biennial Games.
There are 21 sports on offer in 15 locations islandwide.
In addition to the competition, those interested can also try out new sports or test their skills at various National Games locations.
ACTIVE ENABLER
More than 240 ground-up initiatives will be on offer during GetActive! Singapore, in malls, schools and the area outside Marina Bay Sands.
SPORTS FESTIVALS
These family-oriented festivals allow parents and children to try out new sports like athletics and football, as well as kampung games.
It will be held this weekend and next at 15 ActiveSG sports centres islandwide, as well as community fields in Tampines, Woodlands and Jurong East.
There will also be activities in the Marina Bay area, named GetActive! By the Bay.
ACTIVE CHALLENGE
GetActive! Singapore organisers are hoping that participants can rack up 51 million steps between July 30 and Aug 9.
The "Active Challenge" is a feature available on the ActiveSG mobile app and users can track their steps, and challenge their friends.
Users can redeem free swim or gym passes to ActiveSG centres if they achieve daily or weekly targets. They also stand to win Apple watches or Samsung phones.
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