Yahoo Finance Singapore seniors 65 and above to get free access to ActiveSG pools, gyms
SINGAPORE — From 1 April, Singaporeans aged 65 and above will have free access to all ActiveSG swimming pools and gyms.
Concurrently, existing gyms are also progressively being retrofitted with senior-friendly equipment, with the roll-out scheduled for completion by 2026.
Speaking during her ministry’s Committee of Supply (COS) debate on Friday (6 March), Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu told the House that by 2030, 1 in 4 Singaporeans will be at or above the age of 65, and there will be 900,000 seniors in the country.
“Sports and physical activity allow our seniors to sustain their health and mobility longer, and continue to be engaged in the community,” said Fu.
Currently, seniors pay $0.50 and $1.50 for entry to the pool and gym respectively. MCCY will review the age criterion from time to time to keep in line with trends such as the life expectancy of Singaporeans.
Separately, the Team Nila Silver Champions scheme will be launched on 1 April to encourage seniors aged 60 and above to stay active and engaged with their communities through sport volunteerism. Under this scheme, senior volunteers will be given training through SportSG and Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) courses, and assigned roles at ActiveSG Sport Centres to promote sport and exercise.
SportSG has expanded its partnerships with stakeholders to encourage more seniors to get active, and provide support for their health and wellness journey through sport. These include partnerships with:
Wellness Kampung for seniors to take part in activities at the nearby Yishun Swimming Complex.
Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) to train the Centre Managers and staff of Senior Activity Centres, and bring programmes and activities such as modified sports, strength testing and walking analysis to the seniors.
Admiralty Medical Centre to offer fitness and health assessments so seniors can understand their physical and health parameters better. Active Health Coaches from SportSG also conduct weekly sport and exercise health sessions for the Kampung Admiralty residents.
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