Singapore Expands Sports Facilities to Support Healthy and Active Society
Photo: Muhammad Syakir Sulaiman on Unsplash.
Many factors play roles in building a healthy life, from nutritious food to physical activities. As the world seems to grow busier and more cramped, having designated public sports facilities can help encourage a healthier society that makes exercising a habit. In Singapore, the government has been working to improve and expand the sports facilities across the country.
An Active Life
Physical exercise is one of the foundations of a healthy life. Be it playing sports that require specific skill sets, such as badminton and soccer, or strengthening our physiques by going to the gym, moving regularly is beneficial for our bodies and minds.
In a broader context, sports and physical activities also contribute to achieving sustainable development. Shortly after the Sustainable Development Goals were adopted, Wilfried Lemke, a Special Adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General on Sport for Development and Peace, wrote about how these activities can contribute to lifelong learning, more inclusive cities and communities, gender equality, and peacebuilding.
Then, how can we encourage sports and physical activities in society? One way is through expanding access to sports facilities. For instance, a study examining adults in Korea and their exercising habits shows that those with easy access to sports facilities tend to participate more in physical activities than those without access.
Singapore Sports Facilities Development
Singapore has long integrated sports and physical activities into its national vision. In 2012, the country adopted Vision 2030, which includes 20 recommendations based on citizen perceptions to advance sports’ role in society. One key recommendation is the Sports Facilities Master Plan, which aims to improve access to quality, affordable sports facilities, thus enabling broader participation in sports.
As part of the Master Plan, Singapore’s government began building the Toa Payoh Integrated Development at the beginning of 2025. Sport Singapore, a government agency overseeing sports development, and other partner agencies and communities officiated the construction.
The development aims to build sports facilities and community amenities, such as a town park, library, and a polyclinic. Included in the plan is the establishment of a 10,000-seater stadium, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and a sports hall featuring badminton, futsal, and tennis courts. The facilities will be designed to accommodate and support community and sporting events, as well as athlete training.
“This is part of our ongoing efforts to develop innovative, inclusive, and citizen-centric spaces that can help to inspire Singaporeans to Live Better Through Sport. This rejuvenated development will cater to the evolving sporting needs, interests, and aspirations of our people, and we envision it to become an exciting sporting and lifestyle destination at the heart of Toa Payoh,” said Mr Alan Goh, the Chief Executive Officer of Sport Singapore.
Individual Efforts and Systemic Support
Having a healthy life requires both individual efforts and systemic support. While improving access to and facilities for sports and physical exercise is definitely a central part of it, encouraging a healthy lifestyle also entails tackling poverty and improving food security, the healthcare system, and decent housing, among other things. This signifies the urgency for governments, businesses, and civil society to take action for a better future for all.
Kresentia Madina
Madina is the Assistant Manager of Stakeholder Engagement at Green Network Asia. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English Studies from Universitas Indonesia. As part of the GNA In-House Team, she supports the organization's multi-stakeholder engagement across international organizations, governments, businesses, civil society, and grassroots communities through digital publications, events, capacity building, and research.
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