SG Budget 2017: More financial support to boost sports and cultural activities

ASPIRING athletes in Singapore will benefit from an extra S$50 million in grants over five years to help them reach their full potential.

The government will also provide up to S$50 million to match sports donations dollar-for-dollar, said Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat in parliament on Monday.

A separate sum of over S$50 million has been set aside to support community sports to make it easier for people to participate in sports.

Mr Heng also announced a S$150 million boost for the Cultural Matching Fund, which provides dollar-for-dollar matching for donations to cultural institutions.

About S$150 million has been committed since this fund was started in 2014, and donations to arts and heritage causes have more than doubled, said Mr Heng.