Singapore Palms the Flag While Athletes Push Their Limits
In a scene straight out of a sports‑drama, the Ministry for Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) has urged the public to keep a sharp eye on national service (NS) obligations for our star athletes—while simultaneously comforting them with support from the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) and Sport Singapore.
Swimming in a Sponge of Duty
- Joseph Schooling – The 26‑year‑old Olympic gold‑winner, who clocked the fastest 100m butterfly in Rio, has stepped up his game with a call for a national conversation about how to balance training with NS.
- Quah Zheng Wen – The 25‑year‑old swimmer, fresh out of an Oct. enlistment, earned a similar long‑term deferment so he could face the world again.
Having flexed the power of deferral, Schooling and Quah now can hop into the training pool without the looming weight of military duties.
Enter the Defence Division
When The Straits Times asked about the details, a spokesperson from MCCY explained that Mindef provides a special set of “leave and disruption” provisions to help athletes keep polishing their craft. The perks are specifically tailored to each athlete’s unique situation and are carefully sifted against the Singapore Armed Forces’ operational demands.
Deferment: The Real Deal
- Only a select handful of athletes over the past 16 years have received the coveted multi‑year deferment. Two swimmers (Schooling, Quah) and one sailor—Maximilian Soh, who stepped onto the Beijing 2008 stage—are among this elite crew.
While the Macau and support teams keep an eye on the Olympic goals, they’re also ready to absorb the necessary “human resources crunch” whenever the national service guy reapplies.
Funding, Training and the Future
The MCCY spokesman stressed, “The Government is fully committed to making Singapore’s athletes a solid contender on the big stages.” Added SportSG’s ecosystem‑building approach, with heavy investments in skills development, mentoring and handy funding that keeps the competition ride going.
With this joint effort, the games are set for another spectacular finale—while our athletes balance the sheen of podium medals with the real burden of service duty.
Originally published in The Straits Times – Permission required for reproduction.
