Promoting Competitive Cycling

Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth in light of the cycling team's good showing at the 2017 Southeast Asian Games (a) whether the Ministry will give more support and attention to promote cycling on a competitive basis; and (b) what is the outcome of the 2014 feasibility study to evaluate the building of a velodrome in Singapore.

Our Team Singapore athletes in cycling did well at the recent Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Para Games (APG). For the SEA Games, we won one gold, one silver and one bronze, which included our first-ever medal in women's track cycling, and our first gold medal in men's cycling in 20 years. At the APG, we won one gold, five silvers and eight bronzes, which included Singapore's first-ever gold medal in APG cycling events. I would like to congratulate our cycling athletes for flying the Singapore flag high.

Sport Singapore (SportSG) works closely with the Singapore Cycling Federation on its plans to develop cycling in Singapore. Funding has been provided for four full-time staff and two coaches, the use of facilities, as well as overseas training and competitions. Campaign funding was also provided for additional training in preparation for the SEA Games. One of the cyclists is currently receiving the spexScholarship. SportSG also supports the sport through the Singapore Sports Institute, in the areas of sports medicine and sports science. Specialists from the Singapore Sports Institute regularly assess the progress of our Team Singapore cyclists and helped them to prepare for the recent SEA Games.

SportSG's feasibility study on the velodrome is ongoing. As the development of a velodrome involves significant investments, such a project needs to be carefully assessed relative to other sports infrastructure needs.