New sports fiesta can help to push social mixing among youth: David Neo

He says sports and the arts can build bonds amid concerns youth have fewer friends

- Anjali Raguraman Correspondent

A new cluster-level games pilot is being introduced in a bid to expand common spaces and to get youth from different schools and backgrounds to interact with one another, Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo said on Sept 25.

The School Sports Fiesta, which kicks off in October, will start with 16 schools across three clusters at the primary and secondary levels, said Mr Neo, addressing Parliament on day four of the debate on the President’s Address.

Backed by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) and Ministry of Education (MOE), the fiesta is a precursor to more competitions and games at the cluster level.

“We want to get more students to unite through sports and to play together regardless of background or ability,” said Mr Neo.

He shone a spotlight on youth and sports in particular throughout his almost 20-minute maiden speech in Parliament, as he called for strengthening unity in Singapore through common spaces, increased social mobility and building a “we-first” society.