About SDSC

About Singapore Disability Sports Council

Our Mission

“Founded on the belief in the dignity, capability and value of disabled persons, our mission is to enable our disabled sportspersons to realize their individual potential by providing them with the opportunity to participate and excel in sports both recreationally and competitively.”

Our Vision
“To maximise our members’ potential through sports”

Background

The Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC) is the only sports organisation in Singapore that reaches across all disability groups and offering sports at both elite and non-elite levels.

Although it is a registered charity, SDSC is, in fact, the national sports body for the disabled in Singapore. With a membership of 16 voluntary welfare organizations, SDSC has effectively managed to reach out to over 15,000 disabled individuals over the years.

SDSC’s primary goal is to foster, through sports:

·          the physical and mental rehabilitation of the disabled,

·          to build confidence and self-esteem and

·          to promote team spirit and a sense of achievement.

With the fulfilment of these aims, SDSC hopes to lead the disabled in Singapore to live full and independent lives.  

Our programmes and activities serve to:

·          To provide the disabled with opportunities to train, participate and excel in sports.

·          To enhance the lifestyles of the disabled and integrate them into the community through recreational sports and activities.

·          To increase public awareness of and promote support for the sporting and recreational needs of the disabled community.

SDSC firmly believes in the rehabilitative and therapeutic value of sports. Its programmes and activities underscore its guiding principle that "Disability Must Never Disqualify".

SDSC depends on the kind and generous contributions of corporate sponsors and members of the public to advance its cause.

SDSC performs three different roles in the local disability sports scene: that of the Singapore National Olympic Council, Singapore Sports Council and National Sports Associations.

Our History

The Singapore Sports Council for the Handicapped (now the Singapore Disability Sports Council) was jointly founded by the then Ministry of Social Affairs, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, and eight organizations for the disabled on 26 February 1973. Encik Othman Omar – then the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs - was elected as the Council’s first President.

The first Committee wasted no time in promoting sports to the handicapped. A Special Committee was set up to organise the first Regional Sports Meet in conjunction with the Singapore Handicapped Month in September 1973. 36 paraplegics from Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore participated in 42 events including athletics, archery, swimming and table tennis. Farrer Park was filled with euphoria when Australian athlete, Vic Renalson, broke the world record in the discus event with a throw of 25.2 metres.

The Regional Sports Meet opened up a whole new world of opportunities for the disabled in Singapore. It also served as a trial to select suitable athletes to represent Singapore in its first overseas championship meet – the Commonwealth Paraplegic Games.

Although the Council had short-listed six athletes, only two - Robert Tan and Frankie Thanapal Sinniah - represented Singapore at the Commonwealth Paraplegic Games in Dunedin, New Zealand, in 1974 due to a lack of funds. Frankie returned with a bronze medal for swimming, while Robert was placed fourth for javelin and weightlifting, and fifth for archery. In 1975, they were again selected to represent Singapore in the first Far East and South Pacific (FESPIC) Games held in Japan. This time, Robert won a gold and a bronze, while Frankie won two golds and a bronze.

In a short space of time, the Council had put Singapore on the map of disability sports. Our athletes competed in world and regional championships, and despite inadequate funds, and lack of training equipment and facilities, they did Singapore proud by winning medals in such world class events.

In 1985, the Council was renamed the Singapore Sports Council for the Disabled (SSCD). Notwithstanding its role as the national agency for disability sports, SSCD had no assured funding, and not even a proper office to carry out its work. Towards the end of 1994, the SSCD acquired its first office within the premises of the Handicaps Welfare Association at Whampoa Drive. In 1995, SSCD moved into its office premises, and employed two full-time staff. For the first time in 22 years, there was some semblance of a national sports body and a real sense of identity.

SSCD has come a long way since 1973. It is relentlessly pushing the frontiers of disability sports in Singapore today.

In a ceremony held on 29 May 2003, the SSCD officially changed its name to the Singapore Disability Sports Council.

NEW FRONTIERS FOR SDSC

Today, SDSC identifies the need to grow the participation base in disability sports and encourage more disabled Singaporeans to adopt active lifestyles through sporting. Thus, SDSC has increased its focus on Community Sports and Participation, a component that offers opportunities for the disabled to learn a sport or enjoy recreational sporting activities.

Some programmes which SDSC hosts are:

·          Client-Specific Programmes - specially tailored programmes to meet the disabled’s specific needs;

·          Youth Programmes - aimed at encouraging children and students in both mainstream and special schools to take up sports; and

·          Elite Training Programmes (Sports Excellence) - geared towards identifying and developing world class athletes.

SDSC has groomed several successful icons through its programmes and selection e.g. Theresa Goh who earned two world records for Singapore in within seven months (August 2006 to March 2007) and Muhammad Firdaus Bin Nordin, who has earned himself a Beijing Paralympic qualifying spot with a silver medal in International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletics World Championships Assen 2006.

While SDSC is proud of its achievements, SDSC continues to emphasize that its sports programmes are primarily to enhance the welfare and well-being of the disabled.

With the aim of integration and social cohesion in mind, SDSC relentlessly seeks new partnerships to develop disability sports. Through partnership programmes and the active involvement of both the sports community and community as a whole, SDSC hopes to bridge the gap between the disabled and able-bodied communities.

Under the aim of achieving equal opportunities for the disabled and thus social integration, SDSC is also pursuing the recognition of disabled athletes’ efforts and achievements.

Moving forward, SDSC is looking for sponsors to fund an Athlete Achievement Award (AAA) scheme – similar to the Multi-Million Dollar Award Programme (MAP) for the able-bodied. The aim is to provide equal recognition of disabled athletes’ achievements.

Some of SDSC’s Recent Activities (2005 & 2006)

-          Participation in international and regional competitions (ASEAN Para Games 2005; IFDS World Sailing Championships, Disability Sports England Long Course Championships, Telkom South Africa National Aquatic Championships, U.S. Paralympics, Far East & South Pacific Games for the Disabled 2006, International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletics World Championships, IPC World Swimming Championships)

-          Organized local sports events (National Track & Field Championships, National Swimming Championships, National Junior Swimming Championships, National Boccia Championship, National Disability League, National Sailing Championships)

-          Organized sports training programmes (Recreational e.g. Learn-To-Play sports & Fun-to-Play sports, Developmental e.g. Junior Athlete Development Programme in Swimming, Elite)

-          Organized disability sports awareness events (Come-And-Play Day, FESPIC Torch Relay Run, The Picturehouse Explores Murderball, Standard Chartered’s Motivational Talk by Henry Wanyoike)

-          Organized and participated disability sports conferences and workshops (IFDS YES-Asia Sailing Conference, Hongkong Boccia Technical Workshop, Wheelchair Racing Workshop with Heinrich Koberle)

-          Participated in partner events and activities (Rotary Club of Bugis’s Boccia Charity Drive Rally, People’s Association “Live That Dream” Mt Kinabalu Expedition, Student Volunteer Corp “5000 Lap Olympic Dream”, Omega’s Dame Ellen MacArthur World Sailing Tour)

Upcoming Activities (2007 & 2008)

-          Regional & International Competitions (Danish Open 2007, IFDS World Sailing Championships 2007, ASEAN Para Games 2007, IWAS World Wheelchair & Amputee Games, Japan Paralympic Games, Beijing 2008 Paralympics)

-          Local Sports Events (National Track & Field Championships, National Swimming Championships, National Junior Swimming Championships, National Boccia Championship, National Disability League, National Sailing Championships)

-          Sports training programmes (Learn-To-Play, Fun-To-Play, Junior Athlete Development Programmes, Wheelchair Basketball)

-          Disability sports awareness events and activities (Disability Sports Conference 2007, Paralympic Kids Club)

-          Fundraising events (Charity Film Premiere, Wheelathon 2007, Flag Day 2007 with Student Volunteer Corp)

-          Disability sports workshops (Swimming with This-Ability Workshop, Track & Field Technical Workshop, Sailing Technical Workshop)