Michael Y.P. Ang is a Singaporean freelance journalist. He worked at the former Singapore Sports Council before covering local and international sports for Channel NewsAsia for several years. Follow his Facebook page Michael Ang Sports for commentaries on sports issues that matter to Singaporeans.

COMMENT

By Michael Y.P. Ang

Sport Singapore (SportSG) has a well-thought-out strategy to make sport an integral part of Singaporean lives – Vision 2030. Among its many targets, the national sports master-plan seeks to “strengthen connections between the general public and Team Singapore athletes”.

Hence, the release of the recent video Team Singapore – Your Voice Changes The Game #OneTeamSG, which also seeks to generate greater sports spectatorship and viewership. If Singaporeans gain an affinity with Team Singapore athletes, they will more likely watch the athletes on TV or support them at a sports arena.

But... a mega disconnect in Singapore sport

It's been almost three years since Vision 2030 was unveiled in February 2012. But old habits really die hard, and Singapore's quest for a thriving sports culture doesn't seem to be making much progress. The unhealthy trend of ignoring less-popular sports persists.

The only time Singaporeans get to watch national athletes live on free-to-air TV that's available to all households – other than during major events like the Olympics, Asiad, or SEA Games – is when the Lions play in a crucial match, like a World Cup qualifier or ASEAN Football Federation Cup game.

On 21 December, the first-ever South-east Asian Floorball Championships concluded at Hougang Sports Hall. But there was no live telecast of an inaugural regional event held in our own backyard.

Not only that, it was an event in which our men's and women's national teams were hot favourites. And not only that, the status of floorball has already been elevated, given that floorball will debut as a medal sport at next year's SEA Games.

What else does a sport have to do in order to get our national broadcaster's attention? At the very least, there should have been a delayed telecast or even one of extended highlights.

View photos Photo courtesy of FloorballX More

To top it off, both our men's and women's teams emerged victorious on the court of play but certainly not in their quest to raise awareness of floorball among Singaporeans.

I know floorball is not football. But if those who can make a difference continue to hold on to an archaic mindset, then what's the point of having a Vision 2030 with grand mission statements?

Sadly, the media isn't faring any better. As of this report's posting, Singapore's three leading newspapers –The Straits Times, Lianhe Zaobao, and TODAY – have no mention of our historic floorball victories.

Why are the authorities allowing such a disconnect between stated objectives and implementation on the ground?

View photos Photo courtesy of Netball Singapore More

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