In Singapore in 2024, there were numerous significant recreational activities, including the World Chess Championship and the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup.
The annual Singapore Tennis Open and World Aquatics Championships will take place this year in Singapore.
” We don’t go for every single occasion and try to take it here, because there’s usually a price to it”, said Mr Goh.
Yet, it is also not a situation of only pursuing money-making occasions, he added.
” Success ( in an event ) would be when it’s something ( where ) Singaporeans ( can ) participate, spectate and enjoy ( themselves )”, he said.
He cited the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup, which saw top-season diver Teong Tzen Wei win two statues and the likes of Leon Marchand and Pan Zhanle win gold medals at the same event. The event even saw a sold-out group.
” We want to be able to have our own Team Singapore athletes do well ( and ) compete alongside the very best,” said Mr. Goh.
” You bring the best here, our people can thrive, maybe, they get inspired… People you see, like and the younger ones acquire inspired to”.
AN “ACADEMICALLY BIASED” SOCIETY
Since April 2023, Goh has held his present location. He recently served as deputy director at the current Ministry of Digital Development and Information, the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI).
Before MCI, Mr Goh served in the Republic of Singapore Navy and held different control and staff meetings in the Singapore Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence, in places such as policy and strategy, activities, planning, human resources and maritime security.
” It’s been a very enjoyable two years… I’m a big sports fan and coming to this role, every day it’s almost like I don’t feel tired. I feel energised by what we do”, he explained.
What has also been gratifying has been to see the response of Singaporeans to SportSG’s slew of programmes, he added.
However, Mr Goh admitted that the sporting ecosystem in Singapore still faces challenges.
” We have ( a ) declining population. So ( for the ) sport scene, ( a ) declining population over time doesn’t help”, he said.  ,
These days, there are parents who are  , more “open-minded” in allowing their children to pursue sports full-time, said Mr Goh.
” If they can afford it, they are quite willing to help their child give it a go at their aspirations, more than before, I would say”, he added.
However, he admitted that Singapore remains a , society that is “academically biased”.
Mr. Goh cited the success of some of his peers, some of whom had children at the national school games.
I have one question:” Is your child going to continue to try to make it to the national team?” The answer is: ‘ Oh, they have got to study for exams now,'” he added.