Singapore Gymnastics Holds 22nd Annual General Meeting with Key Milestones and Approvals

On 28th September 2024, Singapore Gymnastics (SG) held its 22nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) at which key decisions were made, and milestones celebrated. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Clarence Yap, Vice President of Singapore Gymnastics, in the absence of the President, Dr. Patrick Liew, who was overseas due to urgent commitments.

Quorum Established and Meeting Commencement

The meeting commenced at 5:30pm, following a 30-minute delay to ensure quorum, as outlined in Clauses 9.13 and 9.14 of the SG Constitution. With nine voting members present, the quorum was deemed established, and the AGM proceeded with Mr. Clarence Yap presiding.

President's Message: A Vision for Growth and Collaboration

Vice President Clarence Yap delivered a message on behalf of President Dr. Patrick Liew. In his address, Dr. Liew expressed his gratitude to the members and staff for their continued support and highlighted SG’s vision of becoming a regional and global hub for gymnastics. He emphasised the importance of collective efforts in strengthening the organisation and noted SG's mission to promote gymnastics as a foundational sport for all ages. He also celebrated the organisation’s recent international achievements, including podium finishes and its growing presence in the global gymnastics community.

Key Milestones Highlighted at the AGM

The AGM also served as an opportunity to review the progress made over the past year. Some key highlights from the 2023-2024 Annual Report included:

• GymFest 2023: A celebration of fun, fitness, and friendship, with a special performance by the National Danish Team.
• Commitment to Safe Sport: SG strengthened its child safety framework, with over 70% of staff trained as safeguarding officers.
• Fundraising Success: The Cartwheel-a-thon 2024 set a new Singapore record for the number of cartwheels and raised funds for high-performance infrastructure, which was matched by a grant from the One Team Singapore Fund (OTSF).
• Membership Growth: Athlete membership saw a 41% increase, while technical membership rose by 15%, demonstrating SG’s commitment to coach education and community engagement.
• Major Competitions: SG successfully hosted the Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships in May 2023, a qualifier for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Additionally, notable achievements included a silver medal at the SEA Games for the MAG team and the qualification of two WAG athletes for the World Championships.
• Leadership Expansion: Richard Gordon’s appointment as CEO, effective October 1st, 2024, was announced, allowing High Performance Technical Director Karen Norden to focus on athlete development.

Adoption of the 2023 Annual Report and Financial Statements

The 2023 Annual Report and audited financial statements for the year ending 31 March 2024 were presented and adopted during the AGM. The Treasurer provided a comprehensive overview of SG’s financial performance, highlighting a significant increase in revenue, largely driven by the hosting of the Asian Championships, and a surplus of $256,000 for the year. SG’s healthy financial position, with reserves of approximately $900,000 and $1.4 million in cash reserves, was a positive takeaway for all members.

Approval of Full Club Membership for 2025

One of the key resolutions approved at the AGM was the granting of full club membership, including voting rights, to three additional affiliated clubs that met all the requirements for their 2024 affiliation applications. The approved clubs were:

1. Aces Gymnastics
2. Fireflies Gymnastics
3. Overseas Family School

These clubs will now enjoy full membership benefits and voting rights at the next AGM in 2025, further strengthening their involvement in the SG community.

Conclusion of the Meeting

After the AGM concluded and the meeting closed, members were given the chance to ask additional questions, which primarily cantered on the event dates and venues for 2025.

SG acknowledges the importance of releasing the event calendar early to help clubs and members plan their activities efficiently. Although a provisional calendar, including the National Championship dates, has been shared, final confirmation for 2025 is still pending. SG explained that the scheduling process has been particularly challenging due to factors beyond its control. For example, the dates for the 2025 Asian Championships were only confirmed on 21 September. Members were also informed that scheduling the SG Open is always particularly difficult each year, as it depends heavily on when the Asian Championship dates are set.

Furthermore, in 2025, the dates for international judges’ courses—vital for adapting to the new code—are still yet to be announced. These courses are a key consideration, as SG must avoid scheduling events that may conflict with them, ensuring that SG's top-level judges are available for key competitions.

Vice President Clarence Yap thanked all participants for their attendance and contributions, emphasising the importance of continued collaboration as SG moves forward into 2025.

With the organisation on a strong trajectory and key plans in place for the future, SG remains committed to fostering the growth and development of gymnastics across Singapore and beyond.