Singapore Sports Council's target in Rio 2016

6 medals in 2016@Straits Times

TWO years after the breakthrough in Beijing, the country's sports authorities are dreaming big - a clutch of medals at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

The Singapore Sports Council (SSC) has set an ambitious target of bringing back six medals of any colour, a notion Senior Parliamentary Secretary (Community Development, Youth and Sports) Teo Ser Luck called 'bold, but achievable'.

The announcement was met by scepticism among some in the sports fraternity, considering that the women table tennis team's silver at the 2008 Beijing Games was the Republic's first Olympic medal in 48 years.

But Bob Gambardella, the SSC's chief of sports development and head of the sports institute, said it is not a target 'pulled out of the sky'.

'We looked at similar-sized countries like New Zealand and Croatia, and used a predictive table that I had from my time at the United States Olympic Committee,' he said at a press conference that was also attended by Mr Teo yesterday.

Both New Zealand and Croatia have won numerous Olympic medals despite having a population similar to Singapore's five million.

At the 2008 Beijing Games, using athletes' past performances, the American predicted 20 medals in the 11 sports under his charge. The eventual haul was 19.

Gambardella, who came to Singapore a year ago after more than a decade holding various positions within the USOC, is eyeing one to two medals at the next Olympics in 2012 in London.

These will likely come from the women paddlers led by Feng Tianwei. Singapore Table Tennis Association president Lee Bee Wah had previously targeted two medals for 2012, and another two at the following Olympics.

'It's ambitious but funding is the most crucial element, we'll need at least a million dollars more,' she said yesterday. Her association was allocated over $1.5 million in government grants for the financial year 2010.

The Olympic medal burden is also expected to be shouldered by athletes from shooting (such as Jasmine Ser), sailing (Darren Choy) and swimming (Tao Li, Quah Ting Wen and Rainer Ng).

Part of the optimism among sports officials in setting the six-medal target stems from Singapore's two silvers and four bronzes at last month's Youth Olympic Games.

Members of Parliament have also tabled questions for today's sitting on what will be done to groom YOG athletes for further success.

The Straits Times understands that sports administrators have drawn up a preliminary shortlist of 15 of them, earmarking them as having strong potential to win at the highest levels, including the 2016 Olympics.

They include Darren, and YOG silver medallists Isabelle Li (table tennis) and Rainer. All are aged between 14 and 18.

Still, except for the women paddlers who upset China to take the world championship crown in May, the other three sports have not proven themselves at the Olympic level.

But SSC chief executive officer Oon Jin Teik said in response to potential detractors: 'It's high time we stopped saying that we're going to major Games just for the experience.

'If we keep doing that, then the question is when are the athletes ready to win?'

The former swimmer, who competed in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, pointed to Singapore's record medal hauls at recent multi-sport events - the 2005 Manila South-east Asia Games (except as hosts) and 2006 Doha Asian Games.

'Our athletes have shown that they can compete at not just the regional level, but on the global stage,' Oon added.

The new Sports Institute to be set up at the Sports Hub and ready in four years' time will be crucial to the 2016 plan.

It will provide sports science, sports medicine and other forms of support, following loosely models of similar facilities in Australia, the United States and Japan.

'To borrow a phrase from (former sailing president) Low Teo Ping, the pipeline is our lifeline,' said Oon.

On winning a medal in the pool in 2016, former Olympian and swim coach David Lim said: 'It's going to be twice as tough as in the YOG. The field is so much stronger at the Summer Olympics.

'Setting targets is fine, but from now until 2016, the authorities need to do everything in their power to prepare these athletes.'

Singapore Sports Hub watersports centre

Sports Hub - A watersports centre for all@CNA

SINGAPORE : One of its main attractions was supposed to be a white-water rafting course but, as plans developed, the consortium awarded the tender to build and operate Singapore's new Sports Hub decided the proposed watersports centre at Kallang would do without it, at least initially.

The plan is to build the white-water rafting course a few years after the Sports Hub opens its doors in April 2014 by tapping on the Premier Park Foundation.

The foundation reinvests a portion of the revenue generated by the Sports Hub on future events, activities and facilities.

When it opens in 2014, the watersports centre will boast a 500m race course, warm-up and open areas for competitors and officials, indoor and outdoor storage facilities and training and boat-washing amenities for canoeing, kayaking, dragon-boating and rowing.

Besides targeting world-class competitive events, the centre will be open to the public, who will be able to use and enjoy a family-friendly facility.

"The Singapore Sports Hub is a manifestation of Singapore's sporting vision - the creation of a truly sustainable, fully integrated, premier land and sea sports, entertainment and lifestyle hub," said SportsHub Pte Ltd's Eugene De Rozario.

The watersports centre is part of a 35-ha site at Kallang which includes the current National Stadium, and the whole area will be transformed in four years' time.

The Sports Hub will include a new stadium with a 55,000-capacity and a retractable roof, a 6,000-capacity indoor aquatics arena, a multi-purpose indoor arena that can seat 3,000, a sports institute and 41,000 square metres of business, commercial and retail space.

The project was re-started late last-month after a two-year delay due to the global financial crisis.

Dismantling work on the 37-year-old National Stadium has already begun, with wrecking balls expected to move in next month.

The adjacent 12,000-seater Singapore Indoor Stadium, which opened in 1989, will also undergo refurbishment work.

Among the other facilities at the watersports centre site at Kallang Basin will be a visitor centre with reception counters, seating and information areas and commercial space with food and beverage outlets.

It will also feature a sheltered viewing gallery located within the building, providing a panoramic view of the waterway.

Dr Shaun Ho, team manager of Singapore's canoeing team at last month's Youth Olympic Games, believes the watersports centre will be the "final piece in the jigsaw".

"It's just fantastic that we'd soon have a world-class watersports centre," said Dr Ho, 30, a public officer at Republic Polytechnic. "It's been a long time coming, especially as Singapore has always been an ideal location to host world-class events. And it would be great if there were spectator stands, too."

National sailor Natasha Yokoyama, 16, who competed in the Byte CII girls event at the Youth Olympics, added: "It would be good if the watersports centre also had instructors there to guide users, because safety is most important when you do watersports."

Discussions are underway to secure top-class sporting events, including watersports events, at the Sports Hub, as part of the contractual agreement with the Singapore Sports Council to design, build, finance and operate the facility on a 25-year lease in the world's largest private-public partnership.

"There are definitely plans to stage world-class events," said De Rozario. "These are all still being discussed and will take some time before they are entered into the calendar."

Australia high performance funding

Athletes big winners in new high performance funding@ASC

The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) Board today announced the allocation to national sporting organisations (NSO) of $23.2 million in new high performance sport funding.

‘This extra funding is part of the largest package ever allocated to Australian sport,’ the Chair of the ASC Board the Hon Warwick Smith AM said today.

Mr Smith welcomed the support of both sides of politics for this allocation of high performance funding immediately, to meet the needs of sports.

As part of the Australian sport reform package Australian Sport: The Pathway to Success, the Government tasked the ASC with implementing the new direction and distribution of funding.

The new high performance funding injections range from $200,000 to $3 million per annum, benefiting 25 Olympic, Paralympic and non-Olympic Australian sporting bodies.

Swimming Australia and the Australian Paralympic Committee received the highest allocations of $3 million each which will help spearhead Australian elite sport through to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and beyond.

All NSOs were encouraged to bid for the new high performance funding to drive Australia’s continued sporting success.

In order to determine how best to invest the additional high performance funding the ASC developed an improved assessment framework based on the existing ‘Excellence, Relevance and Effectiveness’ criteria utilised by the Commission during previous funding deliberations.

Consistent with the focus on a more collaborative and effective sport system, the ASC consulted with State and Territory Institutes and Academies of Sport and State and Territory Departments of Sport and Recreation, in relation to the assessment criteria prior to making any decisions.

The additional high performance funding has been made to sports seen to demonstrate an ability to deliver successful outcomes in line with the Government’s new direction for sport.

This funding is in addition to the current baseline high performance funding NSO’s will continue to receive.

‘We believe that this high performance funding will provide exciting new opportunities for Australian sporting organisations and the elite athletes that all Australians are so proud of,’ Mr Smith said.

AIS high performance sports programs in 2011

AIS high performance sports programs confirmed for 2011@ASC

The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) has announced that the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) will move to support 35 high performance sport programs across 26 sports from 2011 in an effort to ensure the Institute continues to operate as a world class sports training facility.

Like all organisations, the AIS has had to find productivity improvements to sustain its performance and capacity to strategically support high performance sport in Australia.

Recognising the continuing annual rise in costs to deliver and support these programs, the AIS cannot continue to support the current number of programs whilst also maintaining the integrity of the AIS in line with its aspiration to be the world’s best sports institute producing champions for Australia.

In consideration of this, from 2011, the AIS will not deliver high performance programs for three of its current sport programs – archery, boxing and golf - at the conclusion of their respective scholarship periods.

This decision also allows the AIS to maximise Government investment in high performance sport by ensuring the Institute better aligns with the priority high performance sports identified earlier this year by the joint Australian Sports Commission/State and Territory Institutes and Academies of Sport National Assessment Process.

The AIS has informed the national sporting bodies affected by this decision and will work closely with athletes, coaches and staff currently involved in these programs.

Those athletes affected will continue to receive AIS support services in accordance with the AIS Athlete Transition Policy once their programs conclude.

The ASC has allocated extra high performance funding to archery, boxing and golf to support their programs outside of the AIS.

This allocation of extra funding to these sports will allow the sports to run their own high performance programs to best fit their individual needs.

From 2011 the AIS will also remodel the AIS Gymnastics program from a residential to a camps-based program. This shift supports the new high performance plan developed by Gymnastics Australia.

Singapore Sports Hub to open by April 2014

Sports Hub to open by April 2014@CNA


SINGAPORE: After being stalled for nearly two years due to the global financial downturn, the Sports Hub project will finally kick into gear.

On Wednesday, the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) signed the contract with the Singapore Sports Hub Consortium to design, build, finance and operate the Sports Hub for the next 25 years on a 35-hectare site in Kallang.

Demolition of the National Stadium, which sits on the site, will begin in October, and the new facility will open its doors by April 2014.

The final construction cost is estimated to be $1.33 billion - which the Government will pay in annual payments.

No financing details were available following the midnight announcement.

"I am glad that we are ready to start construction of the Singapore Sports Hub," said Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, in a statement.

"It will be a fully integrated sports, leisure, entertainment and lifestyle hub for world-class events and community activities. The facilities will be accessible to the public and to top athletes to train and compete in. As part of the Greater Marina Bay masterplan, the Singapore Sports Hub will also contribute to the larger Government objective of re-positioning Singapore as a great place to work, live and play," he said.

When completed, the Sports Hub will include a 55,000-seat National Stadium with a retractable roof, a 6,000-seat indoor aquatics arena, about 41,000 square metres of business, commercial and retail space, and a sports institute.

Two new features of the Sports Hub are a bowl-cooling system and retractable seats for the main stadium.

The bowl cooling system features blowing treated air from chillers through holes in the tier below each seat.

There will also be a sports library and sports museum, as well as other amenities including a volleyball court, rock-climbing wall, hard courts, a skate park and state-of-the-art training and sports recovery facilities, among others.

The Sports Hub will also strive to attract live entertainment events, conventions and exhibitions, while 80 corporate boxes will be available for lease during major sporting events.

The deal between the Singapore Government and the consortium is the largest sports infrastructure public-private-partnership project in the world.

Sports Hub deal sealed@Straits Times

PEN was put to paper yesterday on the contract that will pave the way for the construction of the Sports Hub.

Demolition of the National Stadium will begin by October, with the new 35ha facility catering to both sports and non-sports enthusiasts to open its doors by April 2014, the Singapore Sports Council said in a press statement early this morning.

The centrepiece remains a new 55,000-seater stadium with a retractable roof, with other highlights including a 6,000-capacity indoor Aquatic Centre, a water sports centre, and 41,000 sq m of commercial space.

But several features not in the initial proposal by a private consortium tasked to build the world-class project have been added. They include a beach volleyball court and rock climbing wall.

The construction cost is $1.33 billion. This does not include the costs of operating the facility.

Under the agreed public-private-partnership (PPP) scheme, the winning consortium Singapore Sports Hub Consortium (SSHC) will bear the cost of constructing and operating the Sports Hub. The Government will, however, make an annual payment to SSHC over 25 years.

The new cost announced is higher than the $1.2 billion estimated in 2008.

'I am glad that we are ready to start construction of the Singapore Sports Hub,' the statement quoted Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan as saying.

'It will be a fully integrated sports, leisure, entertainment and lifestyle hub for world class events and community activities.

'As part of the Greater Marina Bay masterplan, the Singapore Sports Hub will also contribute to the larger government objective of repositioning Singapore as a great place to work, live and play,' he added.

Since its announcement, the Sports Hub has been dogged by repeated delays and been a magnet for criticism. Its completion date was pushed back from this year to next year, 2012 and then 2013.

After the SSHC beat two other groups to be named the project's preferred bidder in January 2008, it struggled to raise financing for construction to begin due to the recession.

Mr Ludwig Reichhold, the managing director of Dragages Singapore which heads the SSHC, said: 'We are ready to go full swing.'

Other members of the consortium include United Premas, a facilities management company, and events management firm World Sport Group.

It is understood that while $1.87 billion was the initial cost to the Government over the 25-year period for the contract with the SSHC, this figure will now change as there have been tweaks to the financing terms.

Under the PPP scheme, SSHC is in charge of designing, financing, building and operating the hub.

Events such as the Asean Football League and Twenty20 cricket matches are among the high-profile events being planned to ensure it remains a vibrant year-round destination.

Singapore Rugby Union president Low Teo Ping, who had been among those eagerly awaiting the hub's completion, said: 'Now we can try to bid to get the highly successful Rugby 7s series back.

'With the sport making its debut at the 2016 Olympics, we could see qualifying matches for the Rio Games played here too from 2014 onwards.'

The Sports Hub's completion will also allow the Republic to host a major Games like the South-east Asia Games.

It had given up hosting rights for the 2013 edition as the Hub could not be completed in time. Cambodia are the front runners for the 2015 SEA Games, though no country has been picked yet.

MOU between JOC and SNOC

S'pore-Japan sports exchange@Staits Times

SINGAPORE athletes and coaches can look forward to exchange programmes in Japan over the next four years, after the signing of an agreement between the two countries' National Olympic Committees yesterday.

Deputy Prime Minister and Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) president Teo Chee Hean and Japanese Olympic Committee president Tsunekazu Takeda signed the document in a ceremony at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel yesterday.

Mr Teo noted that Japan has achieved numerous sporting successes, and has also organised international meets.

'Japan is one of the powerhouses in sports and in Asia as well,' he said.

Japan has won Olympic medals in a diversity of sports, including judo, gymnastics, wrestling, swimming, athletics and volleyball.

Mr Teo added in his speech: 'There's much that we can learn from you; our national sports federations can learn from your national sports federations.

'Our SNOC can learn from you in a variety of ways, in terms of preparation for Games, training and helping our athletes compete, and even in terms of administration and marketing.'

The partnership covers sharing of information, promoting athlete, official and coach exchanges, and exchange of sports science and anti-doping activities.

The recently completed National Training Centre in Tokyo will host Singaporeans once individual national sports associations firm up their plans on who to send.

Mr Takeda said he hopes his athletes can learn from Singapore's sailors and table tennis players, who have achieved global success in recent years.

Meanwhile, Mr Teo said he was delighted with several aspects of the ongoing Youth Olympic Games, including the volunteers' efforts and Singapore athletes' performances.

The Republic has two bronzes (taekwondo), one mixed-team bronze (archery) and one silver (swimming) so far.

'Quite frankly, we were not quite sure what to expect and they have exceeded our expectations,' he said.

IOC’s social networking

Join the Olympic Social Media Club!@IOC

Today’s young people have never known life without the internet. They have grown up with a mouse in their hands and the world wide web at their fingertips. In fact, the internet has become such a huge part of their everyday lives that recent figures indicated that the average teen spends as much as 31 hours per week online. It’s little wonder that the IOC is using digital media more and more as a way to engage with young people and encourage them to be more active when it comes to the Youth Olympic Games (YOG).

Indeed, with over 1.7 million young fans on the IOC’s social-networking site Facebook, and thousands more followers on micro-blogging site Twitter, the Olympic Games has already taken the social media world by storm – and now the Youth Olympic Games is doing the same.

Singapore Youth Olympic Scholarships awarded

Six young athletes awarded first Singapore Youth Olympic Scholarships « Red Sports. Always Game@YOG2010

Singapore’s Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew presented the first Youth Olympic Games Scholarships today as a legacy of the first-ever Youth Olympic Games, and as part of the country’s commitment to the Olympic Movement.

The scholarships aim to seed the pursuit of excellence and the forging of friendships. Six fully-funded scholarships to the Singapore Sports School were presented to students from Botswana, Guyana1, Malaysia, Peru, Singapore and Thailand.

The scholarship recipients are: Ebineng Seabe Beryl (Botswana, swimming), Jevina Raydon Sampson (Guyana, Athletics), Angeline Tang An Qi (Malaysia, table tennis), Nieto Herrera Janina Sofia (Peru, table tennis), Ang Wan Qi (Singapore, table tennis), and Phiangkhwan Pawapotako (Thailand, swimming). Please see Annex for details.

“Singapore is a small open and cosmopolitan city with no natural resources. The key determinant of our future is our people – in particular, our young people. This is why we invest so heavily in education, transmitting values that have stood the test of time, enabling our young people to reach across cultural boundaries and equipping them to seize opportunities in a rapidly changing world. These Scholarships represent our commitment to share these opportunities with top talented students from the Olympic Movement,” said Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports.

“Singaporean youth will benefit from a more diverse classroom environment and increased opportunities to learn from their new international schoolmates, reinforcing the Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship and Respect,” he added.

Some 30 National Olympic Committees submitted a total of 54 applications for the scholarships between February and April 2010. In May and June, short-listed candidates were invited to Singapore for interviews, and recipients were informed of their selection in July.

The scholarships are funded by the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, with operational support from the Singapore Sports School, the Singapore National Olympic Council, the Olympic Solidarity and the Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee.

About Singapore 2010 – Blazing the Trail
Singapore is hosting the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG) from 14 to 26 August 2010. The Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games will receive some 5,000 athletes and officials from the 204 National Olympic Committees (NOCs), along with estimated 1,900 media representatives, 20,000 local and international volunteers, and 320,000 spectators. Young athletes - aged between 14 and 18 years - will compete in 26 sports and take part in a Culture and Education Programme.

The Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games aims to inspire youth around the world to embrace, embody and express the Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship and Respect. It will create a lasting sports, culture and education legacy for Singapore and youth from around the world, as well as enhance and elevate the sporting culture locally and regionally.

For more information, please visit www.singapore2010.sg

Youth Olympic Village is ready

Youth Olympic Village ready for YOG athletes and officials@CNA


SINGAPORE: With about two weeks to the official August 10 opening of the Youth Olympic Village at the campus of Nanyang Technological University, organisers say they are ready to welcome the athletes and officials.

The Village Square is where the athletes and officials will rest and relax, and it'll be filled with activities that will leave a lasting impression.

Director of the Culture and Education Programme for the Youth Olympic Games, Lee Pak Sing says: "We have this interesting project called the Photoscape, where we'll take pictures of every athlete and these pictures will be immortalised in the Youth Olympic Park. So when they come back 10 or 20 years from now, they can see their own pictures and say, "Hey look! This is me at the first YOG"."

Over at the dining hall, a temporary kitchen that will serve 22,000 meals a day. Athletes will also have a different dish for 10 days.

It's an elaborate menu that took four to five months to plan.

Head of Catering for the Youth Olympic Village, David Leong says: "During the European theme, we have things like the beef goulash, we have stewed lamb and things like that. For Asia, we'll have our chicken rice, so that it's in sync with the CEP programmes. We also have other things like pizza and pasta which the kids will love.

And during certain days, six days onwards, we have treat stalls. They'll have chicken wings, french fries, these are by the side, and coaches will tell the teams whether they're allowed to eat or not."

There's also a discotheque that will belt out the latest hip hop music - where only soft drinks are served, and a gymnasium that can accommodate 150 people at any one time.

Those who need medical attention can visit the clinic, where condoms will also be made available.

Organisers stressed that the intention is not to widely distribute condoms as some athletes are minors. But they're provided by UNAIDS - the Joint United Nations Programmes on HIV and Aids.

The Residential Zone will be the private corner for athletes and officials.

There are about 4,000 rooms, and all of them will be tended to by professional cleaners. Bed linen will be changed every two days. The committee is expecting about 5,600 bags of laundry to be handled every single day.

With all the amenities in place, organisers are working to ensure that this western corner of Singapore becomes a "home away from home".

EIS sports science and medicine staff to make a difference in London Olympics

SPORT SCIENCE & MEDICINE FINDING COMPETITIVE EDGE FOR LONDON@EIS

It’s estimated that in the two years leading up to the London 2012 Games, the EIS will have delivered approximately 409,208 hours of sport science and medical support services to Olympic and Paralympic athletes at EIS High Performance Centres across England.

YOG online media workroom launched

Online media workroom for YOG launched@CNA


SINGAPORE: An online media workroom was launched Friday to give media around the world access to information about the inaugural Youth Olympic Games which will be held in Singapore from August 14 to 26.

The YOG organising committee says the workroom will enable accredited media to access Games information on-the-go.

As a one-stop-shop, it will also facilitate coverage by reporters and photographers who are unable to attend the Games.

The Online Media Workroom is accessible via the Singapore 2010 website at www.singapore2010.sg/mediaworkroom and will provide editorial and photo content to the international media for editorial use.

These include competition schedules, real-time results, as well as information by the Youth Olympic News Service (YONS) and images by the Youth Olympics Photo Service (YOPS).

Singapore Education Ministry (MOE) to set up more Youth Sports Academies

MOE to set up more Youth Sports Academies@CNA

SINGAPORE : The Education Ministry will set up more Youth Sports Academies to cater to a wider range of sports, says Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education, Masagos Zulkifli.

Speaking at the launch of the MOE Youth Sports Academies 2010 on Friday, he said that in time to come, Singapore could see up to 10 academies catering to an estimated 1,000 athletes at the secondary and pre-university levels.

Mr Masagos added that MOE has completed the first selection of students for three sports - badminton, wushu and table tennis.

Forty-nine Secondary One students from 20 schools have enrolled in the three youth sports academies. - CNA/ms

Singapore to prepare athletes to participate at the Winter Olympics

Olympics: Sunny Singapore heading for the snow slopes@CNA

SINGAPORE: Tropical Singapore is on track to join the ranks of Winter Olympic nations as efforts to form a sporting authority here charge full steam ahead.

Slated to head the national sports association (NSA) is veteran sports administrator Low Teo Ping, who recently stepped down as president of SingaporeSailing.

Although there are already ice hockey and skating bodies here, the Singapore Sports Council said the proposed NSA will oversee only two sports - snowboarding and downhill skiing - with the aim of competing in future Winter Olympics.

The multi-sport event in temperate climate is held every four years, with the last one in Vancouver earlier this year.

In February, Teo Ser Luck, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS), revealed that a high-performance team from the SSC were studying the possibility of sending athletes to the Winter Olympics, as early as the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia.

Technogym to supply fitness equipment in London 2012

London 2012 signs Technogym as fitness equipment supplier@London2012

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) today confirmed that Technogym has become the latest Tier Three supplier to London 2012. Technogym will supply and install fitness equipment for athletes in the Athletes’ Village and other training venues, becoming Official Fitness Equipment Supplier.

The main gym facility will be located at the Athletes’ Village and will provide thousands of competing athletes with top of the range fitness equipment for their event preparation. Alongside the facility at the Athletes Village, Technogym will equip several gyms within the other competition and training venues by installing a total of over 750 pieces. Technogym will also be responsible for the design and layout of the facilities, as well providing staff and ongoing maintenance.

popular YOG social media platforms

Some popular YOG social media platforms@Straits Times

WhyOhGee community site
www.singapore2010.sg/community

13,000 registered members
Launched June 22, this social networking site for the planet's youth allows users to share photographs, videos, tweets and blog posts without hassle.
WhyOhGee micro site
www.singapore2010.sg/whyohgee

Produced by youth, for youth. A wealth of multimedia content connects young people all over the globe through digital media.
Twitter
twitter.com/YOG2010SG

2,900 followers and counting
Keep up-to-date with the latest YOG events and behind-the-scenes preparations.
Million Deeds Challenge
milliondeeds.sg

Always wanted to make a difference in the lives of those closest to you? Now you can. About 69,000 good deeds have been submitted from all over the world so far.
Every deed posted brings the virtual Youth Olympics flame closer to Singapore.
Singapore 2010 Odyssey
www.singapore2010odyssey.sg

200,000 registered users since October last year
Promoting the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect, this online game gives kids the chance to take part in a vibrant multi-player online world styled with a futuristic theme.

WADA launches an online Anti-Doping learning tool

WADA Launches CoachTrue - New Anti-Doping Learning Tool＠WADA

This new resource, available at no cost to stakeholders, covers a wide range of anti-doping activities and topics in order to cater to the various learning styles and demanding schedules of coaches.

CoachTrue contains separate platforms for coaches of elite-level athletes and coaches of young or recreational-level athletes.
An evolution of the Coach’s Tool Kit, which assists stakeholders in the facilitation of a face-to-face workshop for coaches, CoachTrue is intended to assist anti-doping organizations, coaching associations and universities in providing anti-doping education to coaches.

YOG costs $387 million

Youth Olympic Games to cost $387 million@red sports

It will cost Singapore $387 million to host the upcoming Youth Olympic Games, three times the original estimate of $122 million.
The Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) said that money was spent to upgrade existing venues to allow international broadcasting. Also, the number of volunteers have gone from the 7,000 to 20,000.
Local companies were awarded $260 million worth of contracts as a result of the YOG. The companies include CityNeon Holdings and Pico Global Service (both for events and exhibition services), Comfort-Delgro (transport), Singapore Food Industries, Select Group (catering), CISCO (auxiliary police), NCS (software system, data centres management) and Purechem Veolia (cleaning).
The government expects an estimated 40,000 foreign visitors and tourism receipts of about $57 million.

Sports Sci J@Jun-Jul10

This is the latest sports science journal update.

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Jun-Jul10



Long term athlete development

Comparison of Technical and Physiological Characteristics of Prepubescent Soccer Players of Different Ages. JSCR



Development of dribbling in talented youth soccer players aged 12-19 years: A longitudinal study. JSS



Assessing Muscular Strength in Youth: Usefulness of Standing Long Jump as a General Index of Muscular Fitness. JSCR



Vertical jumping and leg power normative data for English school children aged 10-15 years. JSS



Improving Acceleration and Repeated Sprint Ability in Well-Trained Adolescent Handball Players: Speed Versus Sprint Interval Training. IJSPP



The International Olympic Committee Consensus Statement on age determination in high-level young athletes. BJSM



The Science of Sex Verification and Athletic Performance. IJSPP



Relative age effect in youth soccer: analysis of the FIFA U17 World Cup competition. SJMSS



Relative age effect in female sport: a diachronic examination of soccer players. SJMSS



Relative age and dropout in French male soccer. JSS



Differences in self-regulatory skills among talented athletes: The significance of competitive level and type of sport. JSS



Growth, maturation, functional capacities and sport-specific skills in 12-13 year-old- basketball players. JSMPF



Genetics-based performance talent research: polymorphisms as predictors of endurance performance. JAP



Does your (genetic) alphabet soup spell "runner"? JAP



Are calcineurin genes associated with endurance phenotype traits? EJAP



Physical Activity Questionnaires for Youth: A Systematic Review of Measurement Properties. SM



Mortality and longevity of elite athlete. JSMS



Performance enhancement

Coping with stressors in elite sport: A coach perspective. EJSS



Nullius in Verba: A Call for the Incorporation of Evidence-Based Practice into the Discipline of Exercise Science. SM



The biomechanics of kicking in soccer: A review. JSS



`Combining Hypoxic Methods for Peak Performance': a Biomedical Engineering Perspective. SM



Beneficial Effects of Ice Ingestion as a Precooling Strategy on 40-km Cycling Time-Trial Performance. IJSPP



The effect of pre-cooling intensity on cooling efficiency and exercise performance. JSS



The Effects of Whole-Body Compression Garments on Prolonged High-Intensity Intermittent Exercise. JSCR



Heart rate recovery as a guide to monitor fatigue and predict changes in performance parameters. SJMSS



Role of [beta]-Alanine Supplementation on Muscle Carnosine and Exercise Performance. MSSE



Physiological Measures Tracking Seasonal Changes in Peak Running Speed. IJSPP



Prolonged Repeated-Sprint Ability Is Related to Arterial O2 Desaturation in Men. IJSPP



Injury prevention and management

ECSS Position Statement 2009: Prevention of acute sports injuries. EJSS



Massage Impairs Postexercise Muscle Blood Flow and "Lactic Acid" Removal. MSSE



Diagnosing overtraining in athletes using the two-bout exercise protocol. BJSM



The effectiveness of a neuromuscular prevention strategy to reduce injuries in youth soccer: a cluster-randomised controlled trial. BJSM



Core Training: Evidence Translating to Better Performance and Injury Prevention. SCJ



More data needed on injury risk among young elite athletes. BJSM



Sports injuries and illnesses in the 2009 FINA World Championships (Aquatics). BJSM



The influenza A (H1N1-2009) experience at the inaugural Asian Youth Games Singapore 2009: mass gathering during a developing pandemic. BJSM



Whole-Body Cryotherapy in Athletes. SM



Technology development

World Records: How Much Athlete? How Much Technology? IJSPP



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Community projects for YOG athletes

Community projects for YOG athletes@CNA


Athletes taking part in the inaugural Youth Olympic Games will have the opportunity to be involved in community projects when they participate in the Culture and Education Programme.

The Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee is working with the National Youth Council and six community partners to deliver the Community Project activities.

The six activities are clog painting, community drumming, circus arts, balloon sculpting, origami folding, and ceramic tile-making.

Athletes taking part in the Community Project activities will also interact with local community participants such as students from the Movement For The Intellectually Disabled Of Singapore.

NZ boost for high performance sport

Govt Boost for High Performance Sport@SPARC

The Government has today announced a major re-shaping and expansion of high performance sport in New Zealand. Minister for Sport and Recreation, Murray McCully, says the aim is to ensure that New Zealand is consistently one of the most successful sporting nations in the world.

Key features of the changes announced today by Prime Minister John Key and Minister for Sport and Recreation, Murray McCully are:

-The most significant funding injection into high performance sport in New Zealand, amounting to new Budget funding of $10 million in 2010/11, $15 million in 2011/12, and $20 million annually after that. By the 2012/13 year, total funding for high performance sport will be over $60 million annually, compared to the current annual allocation of $42 million;
- $15 million injection from Lottery Grants Board reserves, of which $10 million has already been received by SPARC, which will contribute towards high performance infrastructure development;
The establishment of a new High Performance Institute as a separate entity within SPARC, charged with overseeing government investment into world class sporting facilities and delivery of athlete support, with a distinct high performance culture of excellence;
- $40 million expansion of the Millennium Institute (into which the Government will invest $15 million) which is currently the home of the North Island Academy of Sport and the majority of our top athletes, and will become the National Training Centre for High Performance Sport;
-Plans for a further $40 million development of a network of satellite high performance facilities (to which the Government will make key cornerstone contributions) at QEII in Christchurch, the home of the South Island Academy of Sport; rowing and canoe racing high performance centres at Lake Karapiro; a centre for sailing, triathlon, and ocean kayaking at Takapuna; a new high performance centre for cycling; and regional Academy feeders in Wellington and Dunedin;
- significant boost to supporting our best athletes with direct funding, by retaining and recruiting top coaches, providing world class sports science and medicine services through the two Academies of Sport, and through innovation and technology that will give our athletes a competitive advantage on the world stage.

S'pore will be represented in all 26 sports at upcoming YOG

S'pore will be represented in all 26 sports at upcoming YOG@CNA

Singapore will be represented in all 26 sports at the upcoming Youth Olympic Games.

The selectors said the remaining five slots have been awarded and the republic will field a 130-strong contingent.

YOG social networking platform

YOG social networking site 'WhyOhGee' launched@CNA

SINGAPORE: A social networking platform for youths around the world to celebrate the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) was launched Tuesday.

The WhyOhGee Community (www.singapore2010.sg/community) complements the WhyOhGee microsite (www.singapore2010.sg/whyohgee) that features multimedia content produced by young people for young people, and connects youths globally through the digital media.

The beta site was introduced eight months ago and currently has more than 10,000 registered users.

If you do not speak the same language as the other users in your group, the chat function on WhyOhGee Community translates their messages for you.

Visitors on the WhyOhGee microsite can also discuss the content featured on the WhyOhGee Community forums, as well as start discussions on topics of their own.

There will be a section soon to feature athletes who have signed up for profiles on the WhyOhGee Community.

This will allow users to follow what these YOG hopefuls are doing through their updates and allow them to send them personal messages of support.

Meanwhile, Sing! Singapore 2010 finalists performed to a lunch-time crowd at Lau Pa Sat at the central business district on Tuesday, in celebration of the upcoming YOG.

The performance is part of the Youth Outreach Initiative to bring the excitement of the inaugural games to more young working adults.

An album "Voices of Singapore 2010: In Celebration of Youth Olympic Games" will also be launched soon.

The initiative is supported by the National Youth Council.

ICPESS 10 conference review

From 25th to 28th May 2010, III International Conference of Physical Education and Sports Science 2010 (ICPESS): Youth in Physical Education and Sport was held at National Institute of Education, Singapore.

There were more than 1200 participants from over 30 countries. I have presented 2 oral presentations and 2 poster presentations:

symposium (Optimization of athletic performance in childhood): The optimization of aerobic fitness in childhood
Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

ICPESS optimisation of aerobic fitness in childhood

View more presentations from Taisuke Kinugasa.

special interest group (Singapore Sports School): Sports science: empowering athletes, enhancing performance
Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

ICPESS SSP sports sci intro

View more presentations from Taisuke Kinugasa.

poster 1: Effects of Ramadan fasting on physical performance and psychological characteristics in youth soccer players
Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

ICPESS ramadan poster 10

View more documents from Taisuke Kinugasa.

poster 2: . Relative age effect in Singapore Sports School
Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

ICPESS relative age effect in SSP 10

View more documents from Taisuke Kinugasa.

It was good to catch up with friends and colleagues at the conference. I also showed Japanese visitors around our school. Thanks all.

Singapore satellite centres for sports development

Govt spending S$2.5m on sports satellite centres for youths@CNA

The government is spending S$2.5 million on new satellite centres for sports development, especially for sports featured in the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in August.

The YOG will be held over two weeks, but organisers hope it will leave a lasting legacy.

So the authorities are establishing satellite centres that will feature sports from the YOG.

Teo Ser Luck, co-chairman, Singapore Youth Sports Development Committee, said: "These satellite centres will be able to give a chance to all the young people to learn the different sports of their interests, of their passion.

"It does not matter if they are not in the school team today; they will still get a chance to play and to learn the sport and they will do it regularly."

The centres will be introduced in phases.

The first four - for sailing, wrestling, badminton and basketball - will start operations next month.

For more information on programmes offered at the Satellite Centres for Sports Development, visit http://www.singaporesports.sg/SCSD.

The others may be opened by the end of next year.

Singapore PE and sports development framework

An Inclusive Approach to Physical Education and Sports Development@MOE

The Framework highlights MOE’s inclusive approach to PE and sports development — to develop opportunities for all students to develop their potential to the fullest; to engender a vibrant sports culture and develop talent for the nation. The three-prongs of the framework are as follows:

“Mass Participation Programmes” aim to inculcate in students the knowledge, skills and attitudes for games and sports to enable them to lead a healthy lifestyle even after they leave school. These include the PE programme, individual school programmes and the Sports Education Programme (SEP) co-funded by MOE and the Singapore Sports Council (SSC), which are conducted at the school level.

“Specialised Sports Programmes” aim to develop advocates, leaders and organisers of sports. Students who have benefited from these programmes would have sufficient exposure to develop an interest in becoming teachers-in-charge of Sports CCAs, PE teachers, coaches, sports administrators, lecturers, sports scientists and sports patrons. The programmes include sports co-curricular activities (CCA), intra- and inter-school competitions at the school level as well as zonal programmes organised by Centres of Excellence (COEs) for the respective sports.

“Talent Development Programmes” strive to develop young sports talents and create a pipeline of athletes to represent the nation. Students in these programmes have the potential to be national and/ or professional athletes, coaches, PE teachers, sports administrators, lecturers or sports scientists in the future. Currently, talented student athletes are selected for training in Junior Sports Academies, Youth Sports Academies and the Singapore Schools Sports Teams squads, which are run with coaching input from the National Sports Associations.

3Underpinning PE and Sports development in schools are these beliefs:

PE and sports contribute towards developing psychomotor skills, health and fitness, as well as a lifelong orientation towards managing one’s health and well-being.

BOA Athlete Career Programme

BOA LAUNCHES ATHLETE CAREER PROGRAMME@BOA

The programme will be delivered in cooperation with the established networks of Performance Lifestyle in the Home Country Sports Institutes (HCSIs), and the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust (DKH Legacy Trust), which focus on giving athletes the skills and training needed to allow them to take up the employment opportunities available through the networks.


The BOA Athlete Career Programme will:

• Provide placement support for athletes, through the extensive network of the Adecco group in the UK. A pilot has been started, and a number of athletes have been successfully placed.

• For example - Craig Figes, GB Men’s Water Polo Captain: Late last year, Craig Figes was contemplating whether he could afford to stay on the GB Water Polo programme. He was working part-time as a geography teacher at Manchester Grammar School and, with no Lottery Award at that time, was struggling to make ends meet. Craig worked closely with David Platt, his Performance Lifestyle Adviser, to try and identify other employment opportunities in Manchester that might fit in with his training and teaching schedule. The pilot scheme with Adecco came at the perfect time and the proactive work by the Manchester Adecco branch led to Craig joining the Environmental Division of Bruntwood in less than six weeks. Craig commented that “all in all, the experience has been a very positive one. Adecco helped immensely and the placement with Bruntwood has enabled me to get through a tough financial period and, most-importantly, stay on the GB Water Polo team and continue to pursue my Olympic dream.”

• Following the London 2012 Olympic Games, a series of workshops and an Athlete Career Fair will be provided to enable those retiring following London 2012 to focus on competing until the Games, and be properly supported afterwards in their transition.

• Provide access to the Adecco suite of over 6,000 online training courses, on topics such as presentation skills, project management and computer software programmes. Career workshops will also be run to help athletes start planning for their career after sport.

• Give athletes needing to train abroad access to the international support network of the IOC Athlete Career Programme provided by Adecco, through the BOA Passport Scheme.

Sports Sci J@Mar-May10

This is the latest sports science journal update.

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Mar-May10

Long term athlete development
Expert Performance in Sport and the Dynamics of Talent Development. SM

Talent Development in Adolescent Team Sports: A Review. IJSPP

The Role of Psychological Characteristics in Facilitating the Pathway to Elite Performance. Part 1. SP. Part 2. SP

Developmental changes in cognitive reaction time of children aged 6–12 years. EJSS

Gender Differences in Motor Skill Proficiency From Childhood to Adolescence: A Longitudinal Study. RQES

Continuous vs. Interval Aerobic Training in 8- to 11-Year-Old Children. JSCR

Soccer Endurance Development in Professionals. IJSM

Motor fitness in Dutch youth: Differences over a 26-year period (1980–2006). JSMS

Correspondences between continuous and intermittent exercises intensities in healthy prepubescent children. EJAP

Influence of birth quarter on the rate of physical activities and sports participation. JSS

Elite Athletes: Are the Genes the Champions? IJSPP

Advances in Exercise, Fitness, and Performance Genomics. MSSE

Maturity Status and Injury Risk in Youth Soccer Players. CJSM

The Talent Code: Greatness Isn't Born. It's Grown. Here's How. JSS (book review)

Performance enhancement
New Horizons for the Methodology and Physiology of Training Periodization. SM

A Biomechanical Evaluation of Resistance: Fundamental Concepts for Training and Sports Performance. SM

On the role of imagery modalities on motor learning. JSS

Kinematic and Kinetic Comparisons of Elite and Well-Trained Sprinters During Sprint Start. JSCR

Body roll in swimming: A review. JSS

Does Breathing Disturb Coordination in Butterfly? IJSM

Characterising the slope of the distance–time relationship in swimming. JSMS

Energetics and biomechanics as determining factors of swimming performance: Updating the state of the art. JSMS

An analysis of practice activities and instructional behaviours used by youth soccer coaches during practice: Exploring the link between science and application. JSS

Effect of playing tactics on goal scoring in Norwegian professional soccer. JSS

Match-to-Match Variability of High-Speed Activities in Premier League Soccer. IJSM

Activity Profile in Elite Italian Soccer Team. IJSM

Physiological Responses and Characteristics of Table Tennis Matches Determined in Official Tournaments. JSCR

The importance of being elastic: Deflection of a badminton racket during a stroke. JSS

Automated processes in tennis: Do left-handed players benefit from the tactical preferences of their opponents? JSS

Combining Hypoxic Methods for Peak Performance. SM

Sleep quality in athletes under normobaric hypoxia equivalent to 1500 m altitude: A polysomnographic study. EJSS

Ice Slurry Ingestion Increases Core Temperature Capacity and Running Time in the Heat. MSSE

Influence of Mouth Rinsing a Carbohydrate Solution on 1-h Running Performance. MSSE

Guidelines for Glycerol Use in Hyperhydration and Rehydration Associated with Exercise. SM

Glycaemic Index, Glycaemic Load and Exercise Performance. SM

Glycemic Index and Endurance Performance. IJSNEM

BJSM reviews: A–Z of nutritional supplements: dietary supplements, sports nutrition foods and ergogenic aids for health and performance Part 6. BJSM Part 7. BJSM

Nutritional supplementation habits and perceptions of elite athletes within a state-based sporting institute. JSMS

Human Hydration Indices: Acute and Longitudinal Reference Value. IJSNEM

Influence of Beverage Temperature on Exercise Performance in the Heat: A Systematic Review. IJSNEM

Effects of Post-Exercise Recovery Interventions on Physiological, Psychological, and Performance Parameters. IJSM

What is the biochemical and physiological rationale for using cold-water immersion in sports recovery? A systematic review. BJSM

The Effect of Prior Endurance Training on Nap Sleep Patterns. IJSPP

Fitness and Exercise as Correlates of Sleep Complaints: Is It All in Our Minds? MSSE

The Effects of Precompetition Massage on the Kinematic Parameters of 20-m Sprint Performance. JSCR

Effects of a Whole Body Compression Garment on Markers of Recovery After a Heavy Resistance Workout in Men and Women. JSCR

Mental toughness profiles and their relations with achievement goals and sport motivation in adolescent Australian footballers. JSS

Analysis of a reactive agility field test. JSMS

Being an Elite Sports Scientist: A Balancing Act? IJSPP

Injury prevention and management
Neuromuscular Training for Sports Injury Prevention: A Systematic Review. MSSE

To stretch or not to stretch: the role of stretching in injury prevention and performance. SJMSS

Does motor imagery enhance stretching and flexibility? JSS

Pilates for Improvement of Muscle Endurance, Flexibility, Balance, and Posture. JSCR

Altered oxidative stress in overtrained athletes. JSS

Low vagal tone is associated with impaired post stress recovery of cardiovascular, endocrine, and immune markers. EJAP

Match Injuries in Professional Soccer: Inter-Seasonal Variation and Effects of Competition Type, Match Congestion and Positional Role. IJSM

The effects of an exercise intervention on forward head and rounded shoulder postures in elite swimmers. BJSM

Funky treatments in elite sports people: do they just buy rehabilitation time? BJSM

Technology development
GPS Analysis of Elite Women's Field Hockey Training and Competition. JSCR

The validity and reliability of a global positioning satellite system device to assess speed and repeated sprint ability (RSA) in athletes. JSMS

Kinanthropometry and body composition: A natural home for three-dimensional photonic scanning. JSS

Polar Activity Watch 200: a new device to accurately assess energy expenditure. BJSM

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AUS pathway to success

Australian Sport: The Pathway to Success@AUS Health Gov

On 11 May 2010, the Government released its new sport policy paper entitled Australian Sport: The pathway to success, which includes its response to the Independent Sport Panel Report.

The policy seeks to deliver on three key goals for the Australian sport system: increasing participation numbers, strengthening sporting pathways and striving for success.

AUS budget 2010

Coates welcomes funding boost but warns, work smarter@AOC

AOC President John Coates has welcomed the allocation of $195m to sport in the Federal Budget and has urged the Olympic sports to work together to save costs as they plan for the London Olympics in 2012.

Coates also backed the Government initiative to provide more money for talent identification.

Six more Junior Sports Academies in Singapore

Six more Junior Sports Academies launched to develop young sporting talents@CNA

SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Education (MOE) has announced another six new Junior Sports Academies (JSAs) to develop young sporting talents in Singapore.

Two new sports – Artistic Gymnastics and Bowling have been introduced with the new JSAs at Hwa Chong Institute (Artistic Gymnastics), Rosyth School (Badminton), Singapore Sports School (Bowling), Victoria School (Soccer), Ai Tong School (Table Tennis) and Cedar Girls’ Secondary School (Track & Field).

Singapore Olympic Pathway Programme (OPP) budget

$1 million each, for Olympic glory@CNA

SINGAPORE: The national women's table tennis team ended 48 years of hurt when they won silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

In a bid to win Singapore's first individual medal since weightlifter Tan Howe Liang finished second at the Rome Olympics in 1960, the six athletes currently in the Olympic Pathway Programme (OPP) will be funded to the tune of approximately $1 million each.

"With so much money pumped in, we are targeting an individual medal at the 2012 London Games," said Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) Teo Ser Luck on Thursday.

Mr Teo was speaking on the sidelines of the Singapore Youth Sports Development (SYSD) committee visit of the Youth Olympics badminton squad at the Singapore Sports School.

He added: "The amount for the OPP is one of the highest in support of our Olympic athletes. We will build an eco-system and athletes can hire the best coaches, therapists and psychologists, and this will help benefit the teammates and sport."

Paddlers Feng Tianwei, Sun Beibei, Wang Yuegu and Yu Mengyu, swimmer Tao Li and shooter Jasmine Ser joined the OPP last year.

Funding for the programme, which right now is at $6.3 million, is from the Tote Board and MCYS. Selection for the programme is based on criteria such as an athlete's world ranking and results at major international meets.

A steering committee led by Mr Teo oversee the OPP, assisted by three sub-committees in the areas of athlete identification, training and development, and sports medicine and sports science support.

A joint management team comprising a representative from the respective national sports association (NSA), coach and an official from the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) will manage the fund for each athlete. They will monitor his or her progress on a regular basis.

Regular performance reviews will be submitted to the training and development sub-committee.

On Tuesday, the SSC revealed that a total of $50.22 million will be distributed to 63 NSAs for FY2010, a 6.9-per-cent increase from last year.

Last month, the Singapore National Olympic Council revealed that Olympic-bound athletes would received additional support from a new scheme, the Singapore Olympic Foundation, which aims to raise between $5 million and $10 million from companies to support the development of young athletes.

Said Mr Teo: "The OPP will add to the annual funding that SSC gives out, along with the Singapore Olympic Foundation."

The planned Singapore Sports Institute, which will be located at the $1.87-billion Sports Hub at Kallang and is expected to be ready by early 2014 at the latest, is expected to take over the running of the OPP by 2016.

The current Olympic programme follows the success of Project 0812, a $7-million government-led initiative to help Team Singapore attain medal success at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games.

The women's table tennis team of Li Jiawei, Wang and Feng clearly benefited when they returned home with a silver in 2008.

Swimmer Tao Li, who made a splash at the 2008 Games after finishing fifth in the women's 100m butterfly final, is already gearing up for the battle in 2012.

"This is very good news and it'll definitely help me ... I will grab this opportunity and I hope to help Singapore reap the rewards in London,'' she told MediaCorp.

Also on the radar for the OPP are the athletes from August's Youth Olympic Games, with Mr Teo saying potential talent in sports like swimming, sailing and shooting could be added to the programme in the future.

Singapore Sports Council multi-year funding strategy

Sports Council starts multi-year funding so sports associations can plan for long term@CNA

SINGAPORE: More than S$50 million will be disbursed to National Sports Associations this year and for the first time, multi-year funding will be introduced so that NSAs can better plan for the long term.

33 NSAs will be given funds for a two to three period starting this fiscal year.

They include bowling, sailing, swimming and table tennis.

By the end of this year, all NSAs are to register as charities, if they are to get their funding from the Singapore Sports Council.

Singapore multi-year funding for National Sports Associations

SINGAPORE SPORTS COUNCIL BEGINS MULTI-YEAR FUNDING TO NATIONAL SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS@SSC

Singapore, 6 April 2010 - As part of its Annual National Sports Association Grant Exercise (ANGE) for Financial Year (FY) 2010, the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) announced today that 33 National Sports Associations (NSAs) are given in-principle approval for multi-year grants, ranging between two to three years. This announcement follows the SSC's call in September 2009 for NSAs to have foresight and adopt multi-year planning that focuses on medium to long-term strategies. This is the first time that the SSC is granting multi-year funding to NSAs.

2 Commenting on the introduction of multi-year funding for the NSAs, SSC's Chief Executive Officer Oon Jin Teik said, "Sporting success takes years to build and will require multi-year planning. Hence, it is vital that NSAs plan beyond their annual cycle and take a more holistic perspective to grow and develop their sports. The SSC understands that it would be more efficient and useful for NSAs to have greater certainty of the grants that they receive from the SSC to do multi-year planning. For a start the SSC has locked-in indicative funding for 33 NSAs, to facilitate them with their programmes and activities beyond just one year."

3 The in-principle approval for the extended cycle funding is based on the NSAs' multi-year sports plans and programmes. Additionally, the NSAs must have demonstrated that they have the corresponding support structures in place to ensure delivery of these multi-year programmes. NSAs will need to meet basic criteria such as corporate governance and fulfillment of pre-agreed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), before the funds can be disbursed on a quarterly basis.

4 For ANGE FY 2010, the SSC will be channelling $50.22 million to the NSAs and other sports partners. The amount includes direct and indirect grants of $35.78 million and $14.44 million, respectively, to the NSAs. This is up from FY 2009's grants of $46.98 million (Direct grant: $34.10 million; indirect grant: $12.88 million).

5 Indirect grants to NSAs refer to SSC's sports medicine and sports science services (FY 2010: $4.58 million; FY 2009: $4.95 million) and sports facilities subsidies (FY 2010: $3.54 million; FY 2009: $2.38 million).

YOG tickets go on sale

YOG tickets go on sale Wed@Straits Times

Around 320,000 tickets will be made available for the 200 events across 26 sports with tickets priced at $10 (preliminaries), $15 (quarter-finals/ semi-finals) and $30 (finals).

Official YOG website to buy tickets

YOG updates

YOG moving smoothly@Straits Times

IOC president Jacques Rogge 'We still have a couple of months to fine-tune the preparations but I can say that I am extremely optimistic, I believe this is going to be a great event.'

IOC president visits YOG venue and Games Village@CNA

In conjunction with the his visit to Singapore, the IOC on Tuesday launched the Young Ambassador Programme.

Under the programme, 30 young people have been nominated by their National Olympic Committees to promote the Games in their respective countries and also assist the athletes during the Games.

IOC President Rogge gives S'pore glowing report on YOG work@CNA

Mr Rogge said: "The most defining characteristic is the association between elite sport, high level sport, and culture and education - something that for many reasons we are not able to do at traditional Olympic Games because at traditional Olympic Games, there is much more pressure on time, on training, on expectations, also on the athletes."

Turning to athletes, the IOC has signalled that it will be tough on doping. It will also not hesitate to act against those who cheat about their age, as this had happened in past youth events.

Steven Gerrard opens the new £25.5m sports science centre

Steven Gerrard launches new £25m facility@LJMU

In 1975, the Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) became the first to recognise sport as a science and is now again leading the field with a £25.5million facility, launched by LFC captain and LJMU Honorary Fellow Steven Gerrard.

LJMU chose to name the facility the Tom Reilly Building after the late Professor known as the ‘Father of the Science of Football.’

- Appetite laboratories, psychology testing labs, neuroscience labs, an indoor 70-metre running track, physiology suites, a DEXA scanner, a driving simulator and a chronobiology lab

YOG Culture and Education Programme

Youth Olympic Games is more than just winning medals@CNA

SINGAPORE: The Olympic Games has always been the pinnacle sporting event for athletes wanting to establish themselves as the numero uno sportsman in the world.

However, at the coming Youth Olympic Games Singapore 2010, it's not just about winning medals, as the inaugural Games has already been labeled as an event that encompasses sport, culture and education.

To achieve that aim, the Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organizing Committee (SYOGOC) has integrated a Culture and Education Programme (CEP) that will allow athletes to embrace, adapt and live by the Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship and Respect.

The highlight of this programme is Friends@YOG, since forging friendships is the best way to learn about other countries' culture and develop respect for cultural diversity.

This will see Singapore schools paired up with each of the 205 National Olympic Council home countries under a twinning programme under Friends@YOG endorsed by the International Olympic Committee.

Since the programme began in December 2008, the pairing has seen 229 local schools matched up more than half of the 204 participation nations, with some schools wasting no time in introducing Singapore culture to new friends.

At Evergreen Secondary School, students had their Mongolian counterparts join them in a Home Economics lesson.

Learning how to prepare a Malay dessert – Kueh Dada – was only part of the fun.

"The dessert was very sweet. It was soft and had a nice coconut taste," said 17-year-old Manlai Chinbayar after taking a bite of his kitchen creation.

He was among some 10 Mongolian students who dropped by the school during their four-day visit to Singapore where they also put up a cultural performance.

As for 21 students at Singapore's Jurong Junior College, they got to experience life in Moscow when they travelled to the Russian capital to be part of their twinned school, the Secondary School of Humanitarian University.

With most Singapore students more focused on their books, the ten-day trip which included visits to schools and places of historic significance, proved a socio-cultural eye-opener for the students such as Tee Yang.

"Russians marry at a very young age. Most of the people we interact with are aged about 19 to 22 and they are already engaged or married."

The Jurong Junior College students also managed to introduce a few aspects of Singapore local culture to their host.

Student Alan Chee Wei Feng said, "The fact that we brought our traditional games, and costumes and food over to Russia for them to try out, it really got them to understand what Singapore culture is really like."

The Friends@YOG programme even allowed 50 students from the Primary, Independent and Barker Road branches of Anglo-Chinese School and Anglo-Chinese Junior College to meet up with Australia's two-time gold medal Olympic champion Michael Klim.

With swimming a key sport in ACS, being twinned with Australia and getting tips to refine techniques in the pool was priceless for the 50 students who met the bold, bald swimmer.

"I'm glad I could come here to learn from Michael Klim. He's really helped me to improve my strokes," said 13-year-old swimmer Gabriel Yao of Anglo-Chinese School (Independent).

17-year-old Lennard Yong who will put down his meeting as an unforgettable experience added, "Michael Klim is such a well-known swimmer, it's been great to be able to see him, learn from him and talk to him."

Despite countless medals to his name, Klim can't help but agree that sporting events such as the Youth Olympics offer participants a more valuable prize of friendship and understanding, and endorses the Culture and Education Programme.

"It's [The Olympic Games] more than just winning medals. It's the friendships that you make over the years that you'll remember for the rest of your life," said the Australian who made his first Olympic splash in Atlanta before re-writing records at the Sydney Olympics.

"It's a great initiative to share with the younger generation. They can learn more about the whole Olympic Movement; how to deal with being in a new environment and sharing a message with people from different countries," said the swimmer who retired in 2007.

Sports Sci J@Nov09-Feb10

This is the latest sports science journal update. Please note that I have change the categorization from sports science discipline to key terminologies which are relevant to us.

Long term athlete development is main focus for Sports School and the some topics include growth and development, youth coaching, and talent ID etc. In Performance enhancement, high performance coaching and new training methods etc are covered. Prevention of injuries and rehabilitation of injuries are important for the Injury prevention and management category. In Technology development, the keywords are performance analysis and development of gadgets and devices etc.

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Nov09-Feb10

Long term athlete development
The Effect of Chronological Age and Gender on the Development of Sprint Performance During Childhood and Puberty. JSCR

Relative age effect in elite sports: Methodological bias or real discrimination? EJSS

Age-related differences in repeated-sprint ability in highly trained youth football players. JSS

Circumstantial development and athletic excellence: The role of date of birth and birthplace. EJSS

Anthropometric and fitness characteristics of international, professional and amateur male graduate soccer players from an elite youth academy. JSMS

Basic physiological measures determine fitness and are associated with running performance in elite young male and female Ethiopian runners. JSMPF

Resistance training among young athletes: safety, efficacy and injury prevention effects. BJSM

Effects of SAQ Training and Small-Sided Games on Neuromuscular Functioning in Untrained Subjects. IJSPP

Female adolescent athletes' coping: A season-long investigation. JSS

Self-regulation and performance level of elite and non-elite youth soccer players. JSS

Detecting over-age players using wrist MRI: science partnering with sport to ensure fair play. BJSM

Gender, age, and sport differences in relative age effects among US Masters swimming and track and field athletes. JSS

ACTN3 and ACE Genotypes in Elite Jamaican and US Sprinters. MSSE

Is There an ACE ID - ACTN3 R577X Polymorphisms Interaction that Influences Sprint Performance? IJSM

Relationships between maturity status, physical activity, and physical self-perceptions in primary school children. JSS

Oversized young athletes: a weighty concern. BJSM

Performance enhancement
The use of sports science in preparation for Olympic competition. JSS (Special issue)

The big sports events—How does sports medicine and sports science contribute? JSMS

Why Great Britain’s success in Beijing could have been anticipated and why it should continue beyond 2012. BJSM

Psychological stress in sports coaches: A review of concepts, research, and practice. JSS

Effect of in- versus out-of-water recovery on repeated swimming sprint performance. EJAP

Inspiratory muscle training improves 100 and 200 m swimming performance. EJAP

Effects of Warming-up on Physical Performance: A Systematic Review With Meta-analysis. JSCR

Electrophysiological correlates of cognition improve with nap during sleep deprivation. EJAP

A comparison of modelling procedures used to estimate the power–exhaustion time relationship. EJAP

Measuring submaximal performance parameters to monitor fatigue and predict cycling performance: a case study of a world-class cyclo-cross cyclist. EJAP

Physiological characteristics of elite and sub-elite badminton players. JSS

A biomechanical analysis of common lunge tasks in badminton. JSS

Physiological determinants of Yo-Yo intermittent recovery tests in male soccer players. EJAP

Induction and decay of short-term heat acclimation. EJAP

Mental toughness and athletes' use of psychological strategies. EJSS

The Standard Difference Score: A New Statistic for Evaluating Strength and Conditioning Programs. JSCR

Comparison Between Linear and Daily Undulating Periodized Resistance Training to Increase Strength. JSCR

Optimizing Resistance Exercise Adaptations Through the Timing of Post-Exercise Carbohydrate-Protein Supplementation. SCJ

Energy Drinks: A Review Article. SCJ

A comparison of ratio and allometric scaling methods for normalizing power and strength in elite rugby union players. JSS

Effect of Glycemic Index Meals on Recovery and Subsequent Endurance Capacity. IJSM

BJSM reviews: A–Z of nutritional supplements: dietary supplements, sports nutrition foods and Ergogenic aids for health and performance Part 3 Part 4 Part 5

Oxygen Uptake Kinetics: An Underappreciated Determinant of Exercise Performance. IJSPP

Insulin-Like Growth Factor I as a Biomarker of Health, Fitness, and Training Status. MSSE

Effects of Ramadan Intermittent Fasting on Sports Performance and Training: A Review. IJSPP

Effect of Ramadan Intermittent Fasting on Aerobic and Anaerobic Performance and Perception of Fatigue in Male Elite Judo Athletes. JSCR

Injury prevention and management
Injury prevention in paediatric sport-related injuries: a scientific approach. BJSM

Efficacy of injury prevention related coach education within netball and soccer. JSMS

Injury prevention in professional sports: protecting your investments. SJMSS

On the value of team medical staff: can the “Moneyball” approach be applied to injuries in professional football? BJSM

Interrater Reliability of the Functional Movement Screen. JSCR

Using the Body Weight Forward Lunge to Screen an Athlete's Lunge Pattern. SCJ

Prediction and prevention of musculoskeletal injury: a paradigm shift in methodology. BJSM

No injuries, but plenty of pain? On the methodology for recording overuse symptoms in sports. BJSM

Heat injury in youth sport. BJSM

Setting standards for the prevention and management of travellers’ diarrhoea in elite athletes: an audit of one team during the Youth Commonwealth Games in India. BJSM

Golf-related injuries: A systematic review. EJSS

Incidence of Injury Among Adolescent Soccer Players: A Comparative Study of Artificial and Natural Grass Turfs. CJSM

Reliability and validity of field-based measures of leg stiffness and reactive strength index in youths. JSS

Comparison of Active Stretching Technique and Static Stretching Technique on Hamstring Flexibility. CJSM

Technology development
Application of four different football match analysis systems: A comparative study. JSS

Validity and reliability of GPS devices for measuring movement demands of team sports. JSMS

greenhouse gas management at Vancouver 2010 Olympics

David Suzuki's suggestions for greenhouse gas management at Vancouver 2010 Olympics@David Suzuki.org

To undertake a carbon neutral program Vancouver Organizing Committee
for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) will require a comprehensive green-
house gas management plan.

Key elements of this plan would include:
• Determining emissions scope
• Conducting a greenhouse gas emissions inventory
• Engaging partners and sponsors
• A policy for procuring carbon neutral or low carbon products and services
• Reduction strategies
• Procurement of renewable energy certificates and carbon offsets
• Reporting requirements to ensure transparency
• A communications strategy with a strong public engagement component.

Nanjing to host 2014 YOG

Nanjing to host 2014 YOG@Straits Times

VANCOUVER - OLYMPIC chiefs on Wednesday voted for the Chinese city of Nanjing to host the 2014 Youth Olympic Games - the second summer edition of the four-yearly event.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), meeting in Vancouver ahead of the opening of the Winter Olympics here on Friday, opted for the eastern Chinese city ahead of Poznan in Poland, by 47 votes to 42.

Youth Sports Academies in Singapore

MOE to set up Youth Sports Academies to promote sports excellence@CNA

SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Education (MOE) is setting up Youth Sports Academies (YSAs) to provide centralised training for talented athletes at the secondary and junior college/centralised institute levels and promote sports excellence.

The YSAs will enable graduates of the Junior Sports Academies (JSAs), and other students in MOE secondary schools, junior colleges or centralised institute to receive a high level of training in their chosen sport.

The YSAs will complement the Singapore Sports School by providing a developmental pathway for students who are talented in sports but enrolled in
regular schools in the system.

For a start, MOE will set up three academies in April, each catering to one sport. The three sports are badminton, wushu and table tennis.

The YSAs will be housed in schools and institutions with facilities or expertise to support the training of these athletes.

The hosts for the first three YSAs are: Bedok South Secondary (badminton), Meridian Junior College (wushu) and MOE's Co-curricular Activities Branch (table tennis).

There will be three admission points for the YSAs, at Secondary 1, 3 and junior college 1/centralised institute level 1. The MOE said this is to take into consideration students who are "late developers".

For the first year, the YSAs will cater to students in Secondary 1 only. The selection trials will be held in March. The YSA programmes will be conducted after school hours.

In 2008, MOE piloted four JSAs. Another eight new JSAs were set up in 2009. The first batch of 144 JSA athletes completed their two-year training programme at the end of 2009. They are now enrolled in 63 secondary schools including the Singapore Sports School.

Running barefoot is gaining ground

Running barefoot is gaining ground@Philly

Barefoot runners tend to land on the balls of their feet, rather than smacking the ground heel-first, generating an impact that may be less harmful to the body, a team of researchers is reporting today in the journal Nature.

Last month another study found that runners wearing shoes experienced greater torque in the knee and hip. While neither study looked at rates of injury, the authors of the Nature paper say the forefoot-first style may reduce tibial stress fractures and a painful condition called plantar fasciitis.

Still, the authors of the Nature paper cautioned that if people want to run forefeet-first - whether they are barefoot or wearing minimal shoes - they should proceed gradually.

Customised sports diploma offered to Singapore Sports School students

Customised sports diploma offered to Singapore Sports School students@CNA

SINGAPORE : Students at the Singapore Sports School (SSP) will soon be able to take up a customised Diploma in Sports and Leisure Management.

The diploma is being offered by Republic Polytechnic, in collaboration with SSP.

The target is to have a minimum of 18 to 20 students for the first intake in 2011.

Students will be admitted based on their sporting achievements and academic results at the Sports School.

Deborah Tan, principal, Singapore Sports School, said: "We are really responding to the need for us to consider our graduates who are in the post-secondary pathway in our school, to really get into an industry, the sports and leisure industry."

The diploma prepares students for work in the sports and leisure industry in areas such as sports facilities management and programming.

Dr Michael Koh, director, School of Sports, Health and Leisure, Republic Polytechnic, said: "We have customised it to enable the developmental athletes in the Sports School to both balance academic pursuits and sporting pursuit...the main difference is in the time table planning; it allows them the flexibility to go for competitions and meet their training requirements."

The Diploma in Sports and Leisure Management is offered to students who have enrolled under the SSP's six-year through train programme.

YOG scholarship to train and study in Singapore

Six scholarships for world's young athletes to train & study in S'pore@CNA

SINGAPORE : Organisers of the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) on Sunday revealed details of a sports scholarship programme for the world's young athletes.

The six scholarships are for study and training at the Singapore Sports School.

They will be awarded at every YOG to a deserving young athlete, aged between 13 and 15, from Singapore and each of the five continents.

The first batch of six scholarships will be awarded during the first YOG, which will be held from August 14-26.

They are fully funded by the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, and targeted at seven Olympic sports - aquatics, athletics, badminton, football, golf, sailing and table tennis.

Ng Ser Miang, chairman of the Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee and vice-president of the International Olympic Committee, said the first batch of successful applicants is scheduled to begin their four-year term at the Sports School in January next year.

He said it will include another two years of the school's International Baccalaureate programme for those who can go further.

Mr Ng was speaking to journalists at the Singapore Cadet Fencing World Cup 2010, which is part of the on-going Friendship Games, at the Suntec International Convention Centre.

"This is going to be one of the legacies of the games in Singapore," said Mr Ng. "The YOG is about sports, culture and education, and it is something Singapore believes in.

"So the scholarships will continue to link Singapore to the Olympic movement and the youth of the world by bringing them here to learn, train and to take part in sports."

The scholarships will cover the athletes' school fees, accommodation, training and airfare to their home countries after the first two years.

Applications, which are not restricted to YOG athletes, opened on Sunday and will close on April 16.

Aerobic exercise triggers new brain cell growth

Start running and watch your brain grow, say scientists@Guardian

Neuroscientists at Cambridge University have shown that running stimulates the brain to grow fresh grey matter and it has a big impact on mental ability.

A few days of running led to the growth of hundreds of thousands of new brain cells that improved the ability to recall memories without confusing them, a skill that is crucial for learning and other cognitive tasks, researchers said.

The new brain cells appeared in a region that is linked to the formation and recollection of memories. The work reveals why jogging and other aerobic exercise can improve memory and learning, and potentially slow down the deterioration of mental ability that happens with old age.

Scientists are unsure why exercise triggers the growth of grey matter, but it may be linked to increased blood flow or higher levels of hormones that are released while exercising. Exercise might also reduce stress, which inhibits new brain cells through a hormone called cortisol.

Singapore's Asian Games target

S'pore aiming for 11 gold medals at 2010 Asian Games@CNA

The 2001 Committee on Sporting Singapore blueprint set many targets - including becoming a Top 10 sporting nation in Asia by 2010.

The benchmark is the Asian Games.

In Doha 2006, Singapore finished in 12th spot - with 27 medals, eight of them gold.

For November's Asian Games in China, the target is 11 gold medals.

Low Teo Ping, Chef de Mission, Team Singapore, 2010 Asian Games, said: "We have already begun identifying 12 sports and we have classified them under what we call the M12, that will deliver the medals. We then would identify five, six, which we will call the G5 or G6, and these will be the five or six sports that will deliver the gold medals."

YOG Friendship Games

YOG using Friendship Games to try out processes and facilities@CNA

SINGAPORE: Preparations for the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) are intensifying as they are just seven months away.

As part of the preparations, the Friendship Games will see 600 athletes from 20 National Olympic Committees compete in Singapore from January 7 to 28.

The 2010 Commonwealth Youth Wrestling Championships will be one of six events that form part of the Friendship Games.

Five other sports - Taekwondo, Boxing, Judo, Fencing and Handball - will also be staged this month at the Suntec International Convention Centre.

The venues used to host the Friendship Games will also be used for YOG in August. And so this is a good opportunity for the organisers to test out the systems and improve on any shortcomings.

NZ Coach Accelerator development programme

Coach Accelerator development programme@SPARC

The aim of Coach Accelerator is to provide new skills and challenge them further to ensure they are capable of producing World, Olympic or Paralymic champions

The three-year Coach Accelerator initiative provides financial support and professional development training. Over the three years, the participants receive individually-tailored professional development, attend residential camps, and get sport-specific and generic coach training.