SINGAPORE: Twenty-four athletes are likely to represent Team Singapore at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games, one more than the 23-strong contingent at the London 2012 Games, the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) said on Tuesday (May 31).
The SNOC selection committee, chaired by Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin, confirmed that 21 athletes have earned quota spots through their respective sports' Olympic qualification processes.
Three more athletes - two from athletics and one from swimming - are set to join the contingent. SNOC said it gave these athletes in-principle endorsement, subject to confirmation by their international federations as well as NSAs’ internal selection processes, which will all conclude in July.
Of the 21 athletes confirmed by SNOC so far, there are none competing in track and field. Should there not be any qualified athletes, Team Singapore will be eligible to send one male and one female athlete to compete in a single event each, as part of the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF)'s universality places policy. The qualification period will end Jul 11 and the IAAF will inform National Olympic Committees (NOCs) of the qualified and universality places by Jul 14, SNOC said.
Likewise, International Swimming Federation rules specify that countries without a qualified swimmer in either gender may enter one swimmer for participation in one event, subject to eligibility criteria laid out by the federation. Singapore has confirmed two men for swimming at the Rio Games - Joseph Schooling and Quah Zheng Wen - but no women.
SNOC Secretary-General Chris Chan said that more than half of the contingent will be making their debut.
"There are also seasoned campaigners who are participating in their second or third Olympic Games," he added.
Mr Low Teo Ping, chef de mission for Team Singapore at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, added that support teams have been "working hard behind the scenes to help the athletes prepare for the Games".
"Sports such as swimming, sailing and shooting have done well in qualifications, setting a record number of athletes qualifying on merit for these sports,” said Mr Low.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/21-singapore-athletes/2833290.html?cid=fbia
The SNOC selection committee, chaired by Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin, confirmed that 21 athletes have earned quota spots through their respective sports' Olympic qualification processes.
Three more athletes - two from athletics and one from swimming - are set to join the contingent. SNOC said it gave these athletes in-principle endorsement, subject to confirmation by their international federations as well as NSAs’ internal selection processes, which will all conclude in July.
Of the 21 athletes confirmed by SNOC so far, there are none competing in track and field. Should there not be any qualified athletes, Team Singapore will be eligible to send one male and one female athlete to compete in a single event each, as part of the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF)'s universality places policy. The qualification period will end Jul 11 and the IAAF will inform National Olympic Committees (NOCs) of the qualified and universality places by Jul 14, SNOC said.
Likewise, International Swimming Federation rules specify that countries without a qualified swimmer in either gender may enter one swimmer for participation in one event, subject to eligibility criteria laid out by the federation. Singapore has confirmed two men for swimming at the Rio Games - Joseph Schooling and Quah Zheng Wen - but no women.
SNOC Secretary-General Chris Chan said that more than half of the contingent will be making their debut.
"There are also seasoned campaigners who are participating in their second or third Olympic Games," he added.
Mr Low Teo Ping, chef de mission for Team Singapore at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, added that support teams have been "working hard behind the scenes to help the athletes prepare for the Games".
"Sports such as swimming, sailing and shooting have done well in qualifications, setting a record number of athletes qualifying on merit for these sports,” said Mr Low.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/21-singapore-athletes/2833290.html?cid=fbia
