Seeking to better reflect the multidisciplinary nature of the country’s most successful sport, the Singapore Swimming Association (SSA) has announced that it will be rebranded as Singapore Aquatics (SAQ) from 1st July.
Announced during the recent 2023 SSA Awards and Appreciation Night held at the Raffles City Convention Centre, the new branding was unveiled by Singapore Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong, Sport Singapore Chief Executive Alan Goh and SSA President Mark Chay.
Speaking about the new brand, with a logo inspired by the image of an athlete swimming, Chay advised “we are the only sport, which literally is many sports in one. In Singapore, while we may be called the Singapore Swimming Association, we are also about diving, water polo, artistic swimming and open water swimming.
“We are five sports, united by water, by one flag and by one community for one mission: to make Singapore a world-class aquatics nation.”
With Joseph Schooling having secured the Republic’s first Olympic gold medal win in 2016, Singapore is a regular champion in world and regional events.
Last year, diver Max Lee became the first Singaporean to finish in the top four of the World Junior Diving Championships. In aquatic swimming, Debbie Soh and Miya Yong finished among the top Asian countries at last year’s World Championships.
SSA recently hosted the Asian Water Polo Championship in March, with the men’s national team finishing in fifth spot behind long-time rivals Thailand, and the women’s team qualifying for May’s World Cup Division 2 event.
Singapore was also announced as the host of the 2025 World Aquatics Championships after Russia was stripped of its hosting rights.
SSA is currently preparing athletes for the 2023 SEA Games which will be hosted by Cambodia. According to the official 32nd SEA Games website, swimming is scheduled for 6th to 11th May, while diving will be from 8th to 11th May. The final swimming event will be from 12th to 14th May and the water polo competition will take place from 12th to 16th May.
Images: The new Singapore Aquatics brand gets its launch during the recent 2023 SSA Awards and Appreciation Night. Credit: Singapore Swimming Association.
About the author
Nigel Benton
Co-founder/Publisher, Australasian Leisure Management
Nigel Benton is the co-founder and Publisher of Australasian Leisure Management, Australia and New Zealand’s only magazine for professionals in all areas of the leisure industry. Having established the magazine in 1997, shortly after his relocation to Australia, he has managed its readership rising to over 11,500 and its acceptance as the industry journal for professionals in aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues.
In 2020, he launched the new Asian Leisure Business website.
Among a range of published works and features, his comments on a Blog (blogspot) from 2007 to 2011, when this website went live in its current form, may be interesting to reflect back on.
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