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More sports volunteers needed for Singapore's Vision 2030 plan
Updated 06:37 PM Feb 18, 2012
SINGAPORE - One recommendation of Singapore's Vision 2030 plan is to have a Sports Volunteer Framework to add value to this important group in the sports eco-system.
Vision 2030 is a 20-year blueprint announced recently, for Singapore sports.
The National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) could assist the Singapore Sports Council in promoting more volunteers in sports.
20,000 volunteers helped Singapore stage the inaugural Singapore Youth Olympic Games in 2010.
More would be needed for the SEA Games in 2015.
It is thus timely to re-look this sector, with sports voluntarism still in its infancy in Singapore.
Organisers of events, like the Sundown Marathon and Ironman races, said getting volunteers is a challenge.
HiVelocity director Jeffrey Foo said: "The smaller event organisers tend to have issues ... (such as) getting volunteers in their events.
"Volunteers are starting to look at what is in it for them, and ... they can pick and choose. So in other words, it doesn't really help the smaller events in Singapore."
Forty-five-year-old Christina Tong has been volunteering in sports events for the past eight years. She said dedication is key, as seen in her overseas experience.
"They have been doing this for like, 40 over years, so they started when they are real young and they are now in the sixties. Yes, there are many in Australia," she said.
A better management system could alleviate the problem of quantity and quality.
That is where the NVPC can help to act as a catalyst and capacity builder, and aid sports associations to manage the volunteers.
NVPC CEO Laurence Lien suggested matching volunteers and sports events with volunteers' skills and interests.
"Work with them to conceptualise a model of identifying the roles for the different volunteers, to identify where these volunteers could come from. Segmenting them into different skill sets, different interests, so that you don't see the entire volunteer base as just one," Mr Lien said.
"You understand them and the sort of activities they are more likely to participate in, and tailoring the opportunities to fit the interest and skill set."
Currently, NVPC is working with some National Sports Associations and have had meetings with the sports council on the subject.
The associations NVPC partnered includes the Singapore Disability Sports Council.
The voluntarism rate in Singapore has seen an upward trend recently.
It went up from 17 per cent in 2008 to 23 per cent in 2010.
Now, NVPC would like to work with more National Sports Associations to beef up sports voluntarism in future. CHANNEL NEWSASIA
Updated 06:37 PM Feb 18, 2012
SINGAPORE - One recommendation of Singapore's Vision 2030 plan is to have a Sports Volunteer Framework to add value to this important group in the sports eco-system.
Vision 2030 is a 20-year blueprint announced recently, for Singapore sports.
The National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) could assist the Singapore Sports Council in promoting more volunteers in sports.
20,000 volunteers helped Singapore stage the inaugural Singapore Youth Olympic Games in 2010.
More would be needed for the SEA Games in 2015.
It is thus timely to re-look this sector, with sports voluntarism still in its infancy in Singapore.
Organisers of events, like the Sundown Marathon and Ironman races, said getting volunteers is a challenge.
HiVelocity director Jeffrey Foo said: "The smaller event organisers tend to have issues ... (such as) getting volunteers in their events.
"Volunteers are starting to look at what is in it for them, and ... they can pick and choose. So in other words, it doesn't really help the smaller events in Singapore."
Forty-five-year-old Christina Tong has been volunteering in sports events for the past eight years. She said dedication is key, as seen in her overseas experience.
"They have been doing this for like, 40 over years, so they started when they are real young and they are now in the sixties. Yes, there are many in Australia," she said.
A better management system could alleviate the problem of quantity and quality.
That is where the NVPC can help to act as a catalyst and capacity builder, and aid sports associations to manage the volunteers.
NVPC CEO Laurence Lien suggested matching volunteers and sports events with volunteers' skills and interests.
"Work with them to conceptualise a model of identifying the roles for the different volunteers, to identify where these volunteers could come from. Segmenting them into different skill sets, different interests, so that you don't see the entire volunteer base as just one," Mr Lien said.
"You understand them and the sort of activities they are more likely to participate in, and tailoring the opportunities to fit the interest and skill set."
Currently, NVPC is working with some National Sports Associations and have had meetings with the sports council on the subject.
The associations NVPC partnered includes the Singapore Disability Sports Council.
The voluntarism rate in Singapore has seen an upward trend recently.
It went up from 17 per cent in 2008 to 23 per cent in 2010.
Now, NVPC would like to work with more National Sports Associations to beef up sports voluntarism in future. CHANNEL NEWSASIA
