More players in team sports at ActiveSG facilities, but some private operators have to wait a little longer

SINGAPORE: Team sports for up to 30 fully vaccinated persons will be allowed at selected ActiveSG or People’s Association facilities from Tuesday (Mar 15), but operators of private facilities will have to wait a little longer amid the ongoing approval process.

"We will be contacting private operators about their application from today and users can begin to play once the operators open up for booking," Sport Singapore said on Tuesday in response to queries from CNA.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) announced last Friday that sports will resume with up to 30 fully vaccinated people, up from a maximum of 10, as part of streamlined COVID-19 measures. Additional COVID-19 antigen rapid tests (ART) will also not be needed as long as all participants are fully vaccinated.

The streamlining of these measures had been postponed since it was first announced on Feb 16, as COVID-19 cases surged due to the Omicron variant.

Private sports facility operators told CNA they were disappointed at the postponements, adding that users had looked forward to having more players.

When authorities finally announced that the streamlined measures were going ahead on Tuesday, users called in asking if they could bring more players, the operators said. But as the day drew closer, the operators said they had not got the green light from Sport Singapore (SportSG).

Mr Rajesh Mulani, co-founder of futsal facility The Cage, told CNA on Monday that private operators will typically have to apply to be part of the scheme and wait for SportSG's approval. The application process includes detailing their safe management measures to cater to more people.

"We've not heard anything yet (from SportSG). But we are ready, so once we get that approval then we can start taking