Singapore Sports School to relocate from Woodlands to Kallang as part of Kallang Alive Masterplan

In a significant move to enhance the sporting ecosystem in Singapore, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced during his National Day Rally speech that the Singapore Sports School will relocate from its current Woodlands campus to Kallang.

This relocation is part of the broader Kallang Alive Masterplan, a comprehensive initiative aimed at transforming Kallang into the premier sports hub of the nation.

The Singapore Sports School, which was officially opened in April 2004 and has produced notable athletes such as badminton player Loh Kean Yew and sprint queen Shanti Pereira, will soon call Kallang its new home. The move is intended to provide student-athletes the opportunity to study and train alongside senior athletes, fostering a more integrated and dynamic sports community.

In his augural NDR speech, Mr Wong called Kallang the new “home” for Team Singapore and revealed plans to establish state-of-the-art sports science and sports medicine facilities. These new facilities will be housed together with national training centres for several key sports, creating synergies that are expected to elevate Singapore’s sports performance on the global stage.

The announcement also touched on the upcoming replacement of the Singapore Indoor Stadium with a new “best-in-class” arena, boasting a larger capacity of 18,000 seats. This new arena will not only accommodate more top-tier events but also provide Singaporean athletes the chance to compete on home ground, offering local fans more opportunities to support their athletes.

Mr Wong emphasised that the Kallang Alive Masterplan is designed to make Kallang a destination for all Singaporeans. A key feature of the plan is the transformation of the main road through the Sports Hub into a pedestrianised community boulevard, complete with sporting facilities and programmes accessible to everyone.

“Kallang will be a new lifestyle destination for people to watch more sporting and entertainment events, take part in sports, and enjoy quality family time together,” Mr Wong said. He underscored that the facilities are not just for elite athletes, but for anyone with an interest in sports, regardless of their skill level.

The 89-hectare Kallang Alive Masterplan, first revealed in 2019, is a mixed-use lifestyle destination that aligns with Singapore’s vision of becoming both a garden city and a smart nation. Recent developments around the Sports Hub include the opening of the Kallang Football Hub and Kallang Tennis Centre, both of which serve as national training centres.

In 2022, SportSG assumed ownership and management of the Singapore Sports Hub, with the goal of making it more accessible to the broader community. While Mr Wong acknowledged the positive impact the Sports Hub has had on the local sports scene, he also pointed out that the government’s takeover provides an opportunity to fully unlock the hub’s potential and energize the entire Kallang area.

Reflecting on Singapore’s recent sporting achievements, Mr Wong highlighted the performance of the Singaporean contingent at the Paris Olympics, particularly kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder, who won Singapore’s first Olympic medal in eight years. Mr Wong praised the athletes for their grit and determination, citing the example of Shanti Pereira, who remained resilient despite suffering an injury before the Games.

Looking ahead, the Paralympics will take place from 28 August to 8 September, and Mr Wong expressed pride in Singapore’s para-athletes, who have overcome significant challenges to excel in their sports.

Mr Wong also announced plans to strengthen Singapore’s sporting culture, including through initiatives like the President’s Challenge, which will further engage the community in nurturing sports talents, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The announcement of the Sports School’s relocation raises questions about the future of the current campus in Woodlands.

The S$75-million school, officially opened on 2 April 2004 by Singapore’s second Prime Minister, Mr Goh Chok Tong, represents a significant investment in the nation’s sports development. With inflation, the value of this investment would exceed S$100 million in 2024.

As Kallang prepares to welcome the Sports School, the fate of the Woodlands campus remains uncertain. Will it be repurposed, redeveloped, or perhaps even preserved as a historical site? The coming months may provide answers as Singaporeans watch closely how this transition unfolds.