Temasek Foundation Inspire Fund Opens For Applications For Promising Athletes

Temasek Foundation Inspire Fund Opens For Applications For Promising Athletes

$100,000 fund available annually to help aspiring athletes who are not receiving grants or funding from existing support systems.

Sport Singapore (SportSG) and National Youth Sport Institute (NYSI) will start accepting applications for the Temasek Foundation Inspire Fund (TFIF) from tomorrow (13 January 2021) in an effort to support promising athletes who aspire to represent Singapore at international competitions that may resume this year.

2. Made possible through the E W Barker Endowment, Temasek Foundation will contribute $100,000 annually towards the TFIF to provide more opportunities to athletes who are passionate and committed to sporting excellence, and to inspire the larger community to discover and pursue their sporting interests. Jointly administered by SportSG and NYSI, the TFIF provides support to athletes, who are not supported by the existing grants or funding support. Potential athletes may apply as an individual or as a team.

3. Mr Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth & Second Minister for Law, said, “Athletes who represent Singapore at international competitions will get a leg up with the new Temasek Foundation Inspire Fund for Athletes. The fund sets no age limit or restriction on types of sport, so this will benefit a wider base of aspiring athletes. I would like to encourage all eligible athletes to apply and make Singapore proud!”

4. There will be two grant calls in a year for the Fund, where up to $50,000 per call will be awarded to shortlisted applicants, and they will be evaluated based on: (1) the level of competition, (2) the applicant’s or team’s performance and track record. The application period for the first grant call is from 13 January 2021 to 12 February 2021. The next application period will be announced in the second half of the year.

5. “At Singapore Sport Institute, we look at every possibility to strengthen and provide all aspiring athletes with the competitive edge they need to achieve their dreams. However, this requires the collaborative effort of every member of our society to contribute as One Team Singapore. We are pleased that Temasek Foundation has stepped up to join us in enabling athletes to realise their full potential and hope that the Temasek Foundation Inspire Fund will encourage more athletes to commit to train, compete at their best, and inspire our community.” said Mr Toh Boon Yi, Chief of Singapore Sport Institute, Sport Singapore.

6. Ms Koh Lin-Net, Chief Executive, Temasek Foundation Nurtures, said, “Aspiring athletes need a community of support to grow. It is so heartening to see passion-driven, self-funded athletes go on to represent Singapore in international competitions. They come from different sporting disciplines – from talented youths in emerging sports such as dodgeball, indoor skydiving and tchoukball, to Masters athletes. The Temasek Foundation Inspire Fund will provide support for these athletes to nurture their aspirations. We hope this will inspire and empower others to follow.”

7. Dr Su Chun Wei, Director, National Youth Sports Institute, said, “The Temasek Foundation Inspire Fund extends support to athletes who require financial backing and we would like to encourage youth athletes to apply for this fund. With NYSI’s focus on the development of youth athletes in high performance sports, we look forward to supporting more youth athletes in their sporting aspirations to further build the Singapore youth sports ecosystem.”

8. While funding levels will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, the qualifying costs taken into consideration can comprise airfare, accommodation, registration fees, visa fees (if any), and travel insurance (which will be mandatory for recipients).

9. “One of my challenges is to pay for my overseas competitions. With BMX competitions resuming internationally, I hope to take part. With this fund, I hope to get some help and pursue BMX racing as a profession and represent Singapore in the BMX Asian, Europe and World Championships,” said Mr Mas Ridzwan bin Muhammad Ali, an 18-year-old BMX rider. Likewise, Mr Jason Wong who is 54 years old and Asia Masters Athletics Championship Gold Medalist 100H & 400 H said, “Age is just a number. Achieve our competitive dreams/goals at any stage of our life. I am looking forward to apply for this fund in my upcoming competition at Taiwan Masters Track and Field Championships as it will help to offset competition costs.”