Singapore to build 50 multipurpose sports courts and consolidate athletic high performance entities
Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo announces the construction of 50 multipurpose courts and a S$10 million grant for multi-school sports teams to enhance community engagement and athlete development.
- The government will construct 50 multipurpose courts for badminton and pickleball over five years to meet rising public demand.
- A S$10 million grant will support the formation of multi-school sports teams to foster social mixing and shared training resources.
- High-performance sports entities will consolidate into Sport Excellence Singapore to provide integrated support for national athletes.
Singapore will construct 50 multipurpose courts for badminton and pickleball over the next five years to address the rising demand for public sporting facilities. Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo announced the initiative on 5 March 2026.
Eight dual-use courts have been operational at The Kallang since January.
An additional eight pickleball courts are scheduled to open at the Little India bus terminal in the coming months as part of the initial phase of the rollout.
Minister Neo stated during the debate on the MCCY spending plans that public facilities currently see over 20 million visitors annually. He noted a significant rise in demand during peak hours.
The new courts are a central component of the Sports Facilities Master Plan (SFMP).
This plan focuses on providing quality, affordable facilities to the public. Authorities confirmed that noise management will be a priority for courts situated near residential estates.
Under the SFMP, regional sport centres in Queenstown, Hougang, and Punggol are expected to reach completion within one year. These centres aim to enable wider participation in active lifestyles across various districts.
MCCY will also enhance its collaboration with Sport Singapore (SportSG) and the Ministry of Education (MOE).
The partnership intends to expand competitive opportunities for students and foster social mixing across different socio-economic backgrounds.
Minister Neo announced the launch of a S$10 million (US$7.83 million) grant to encourage multi-school Co-Curricular Activity (CCA) teams.
This fund allows students from different institutions to train and compete together rather than remaining in traditional school-based silos.
Each participating multi-school team will receive S$200,000 over a four-year period.
These funds may be utilised to offset the costs of facilities, transportation, and professional coaching for the partner schools involved in the programme.
Neo emphasised that CCAs are vital for forging tight social bonds.
He noted that sustained interaction through sport is a primary goal for the ministry in its efforts to build a more cohesive society.
Furthermore, SportSG will partner with schools to expand the School Sports Fiesta events.
This initiative, which began as a pilot in October 2025, allows students to trial various sports in a non-traditional competitive environment.
The inaugural fiesta involved 2,000 students from 16 different schools.
MCCY officials confirmed that the programme aims to double its reach to 32 schools by next year to increase exposure to diverse sporting disciplines.
At the elite level, the government is consolidating its high-performance infrastructure.
The High Performance Sport Institute (HPSI), Singapore Sports School (SSP), and the Unleash the Roar (UTR) project will merge into Sport Excellence Singapore (SpexSG).
SpexSG is scheduled for launch next month.
The consolidated entity aims to provide athletes with stronger, integrated support to extend their competitive careers. It will also deepen partnerships with National Sports Associations (NSAs).
An MCCY spokesperson informed local media that while individual entities will retain their branding, the consolidation transforms the athlete journey.
The move follows a prior integration of the Singapore Sport Institute (SSI) and the National Youth Sports Institute (NYSI).
The consolidation is expected to benefit the national football ecosystem specifically. Footballers under the UTR project will receive enhanced support during the critical transition from youth levels to senior professional ranks.
The ministry highlighted that the merger will result in higher standards for Sport Science and Sport Medicine. This is achieved by deploying larger, specialised teams across various sporting clusters to monitor athlete health and performance.
By combining expertise, MCCY intends to optimise resources and strengthen the overall governance of the high-performance system.
Minister Neo said these steps ensure athletes have the necessary environment to realise their full potential.
