The 2025 World Aquatics Championships and World Aquatics Masters Championships are expected to bring in around 40,000 visitors and generate an estimated S$60 million in tourism receipts.
At first glance, it sounds like a win for Singapore’s tourism sector.
But when you realise the cost of running the event could be more than $100 million the question should be about why the numbers don’t quite add up.
Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth Eric Chua disclosed the projections in Parliament on 27 February in response to queries.
What he failed to address was how the government justifies pouring so much taxpayers money into an event that will ultimately generate negative value in return for Singapore’s financial coffers.
At least, based on current projections.
Let’s face it, this is not Taylor Swift or Coldplay.
The championship’s hosting budget was originally estimated between S$90 million and S$95 million.
The figure is widely expected to balloon, if history is anything to go by.
Think 2010 Youth Olympic Games, and then again the 2015 Southeast Asian Games.
Part of the budget will be poured to build the temporary competition venue next to Leisure Park Kallang, which is expected to be dismantled after the championship.
Member of Parliament (MP) for Aljunied GRC Gerald Giam from the Workers’ Party rightly questioned if any feasibility studies had been done to extend the venue’s use.
The authorities are still ‘studying’ the possibility, which means there’s no guarantee the facility will serve the public or athletes after the event.
Why are we so comfortable spending millions on a temporary structure with no concrete plans to leave behind a legacy venue for the community?
If the goal is to boost local participation in aquatic sports, wouldn’t that money be better spent on upgrading existing public pools or building permanent sports infrastructure?
Chua assured that the organising committee is working hard to cut costs and secure sponsorships.
But with the final bill still being “finalised,” the public is left in the dark about how much of the financial burden will ultimately fall on taxpayers.
The public should demand accountability of this entire episode from the bidding phase right up to how much money is being spent at the end of the day to organise this event in Singapore.
MAIN PHOTO: AFP