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Two NTU students and friends Charis Chua and Heng Yi-Hsin beat thousands of applicants to the opportunity to work with some of the best in the F1 business MAY 23, SINGAPORE – Two exceptional Singaporean talents, Heng Yi-Hsin and former SportPlus journalist Charis Chua, have emerged triumphant in the fiercely competitive Red Bull Intern Championship. The winners were notified via a special message on TikTok from three-time world champion Max Verstappen. Their victory has earned the two friends an exclusive opportunity to embark on a two-month internship in Milton Keynes, United Kingdom with the Oracle Red Bull Racing team. Charis, a student at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore, claimed victory in the Hospitality and Events Internship category. With her background in public relations, she has finely tuned her communication skills. Her dedication, creativity, and strategic acumen were evident in her comprehensive case study, which showcased her ability to effectively engage with audiences particularly customers. This not only set her apart but served as a cornerstone of her success in the competition. “I was 15 years old when I first dreamt of working in Formula One,” says Charis. “The passion of everyone involved in the sport really drew me in and I made a promise to myself that I would put in the work to be part of it one day." She adds, "When this Red Bull Intern Championship competition was announced, I knew this was the opportunity of a lifetime I had been waiting for, but winning it wouldn’t be easy. I think I was visibly shaking when I received the winners’ email. This internship is an invaluable experience I’m very grateful to have received, and I can't wait to embark on this journey with the Red Bull Racing team.” Heng Yi-Hsin, who is also entering her final year at NTU, clinched the Red Bull Relations Internship. As an intern at The Straits Times, Yi-Hsin has honed her skills in photojournalism. She also previously served as a Marketing and Advocacy Intern, developing her management and content creation skills. Her passion, creativity, and wit showed through in her short video submission which gave her an added edge in the competition, particularly in her category. Yi-Hsin shared her excitement, stating, “I stumbled upon F1 a few years ago and was immediately hooked. Back then, working in F1 felt like a pipe dream, so when the Red Bull Intern Championship was announced, I pulled out all the stops because I knew the competition would be tough. Knowing how passionate and competitive F1 and Red Bull Racing fans are, it feels incredibly surreal to be part of the Oracle Red Bull Racing team!” The Red Bull Intern Championship, facilitated by Red Bull’s official distributor in Singapore, Pokka Pte. Ltd, was a rigorous contest with multiple challenging stages. Stage 1: Candidates began by submitting applications with their CVs and cover letters, leading to a personality evaluation through the Red Bull Wingfinder assessment to identify their unique strengths. Stage 2: The competition intensified as participants crafted short videos showcasing their creativity and personality. Stage 3: Advancing to virtual interviews, top contenders further explored their aspirations and visions, culminating in a decisive case study challenge that determined the winners of each internship category. Amidst the various stages, Red Bull also orchestrated a unique outreach event together with NTU last March 2024. A miniature remote-controlled (RC) car zipped through the NTU campus, captivating students and encouraging them to seize the opportunity to participate in the Red Bull Internship Championship. This creative activation was a testament to Red Bull’s commitment to finding the best young talents in Singapore. “We are proud that two NTU students were selected for the internships in the UK amidst the stiff competition. At NTU, we highly value experiential learning, and internships are a key part of that. We enjoyed working with Red Bull on this internship and extend our sincere gratitude to Oracle Red Bull for their collaboration,” said Professor Sharon Ng, Deputy Dean, Professor of Marketing, Nanyang Business School, Nanyang Technological University Singapore. Charis and Yi-Hsin now have the unique opportunity to gain invaluable experience within the world of Oracle Red Bull Racing during their internship at the headquarters in Milton Keynes, in the UK. Working closely with the seasoned professionals, they will delve into various critical aspects of the operations. From understanding the nuances of engineering, to mastering the intricacies of logistics that ensure seamless race day execution, Charis and Yi-Hsin will be at the forefront of the action. This hands-on experience will not only broaden their knowledge but also fine tune their skills, preparing them for a future career in fast-paced and demanding realms. After returning from their overseas internship, Charis and Yi-Hsin will take part in one of Singapore’s most anticipated events – the Singapore Grand Prix. With their newfound expertise and insights, they will significantly enhance the racing weekend, providing them an opportunity to showcase their talent and dedication. #FormulaOne #MaxVerstappen #RedBullSG

Singapore runners bound for this year's Sydney Marathon will have the support of science backed marathon and endurance sport coaching, thanks to a collaboration with Elevate Performance Singapore runners who are bound for this year's Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS can consider themselves fortunate to be able to have access to professional coaching services for marathon and endurance sport training, thanks to a partnership with Elevate Performance Coaching that was established earlier this year with Sydney Marathon Singapore Chapter with SportPlus.sg. As part of the collaboration with Sydney Marathon, 10 lucky contest winners won sponsored slots to join a specially structured and customised training program for Sydney Marathon with Elevate Performance Coaching's track squad, while all Sydney Marathon bound Singapore runners are also invited to join the Sydney Marathon Coaching Clinic's track sessions on the first Thursday of every month pro bono. Speaking at the launch of the Sydney Marathon Coaching Clinic with SportPlus.sg, Arthur Tong, founder of Elevate Performance Coaching shared that his team uses science-backed coaching methods to ensure every trainee and participant receives the right data to make informed choices for their training blocks. This is essential in order for the participants to reap the maximum benefit from any marathon coaching program. Said Arthur: "A lot of our athletes here who are joining us will have to do a benchmarking tests first so that we are able to measure where their fitness levels are at, so that we can seed them in the correct groupings for them to execute the interval runs at their ability levels." He was speaking in reference to the wide array of runners who are participating in the Sydney Marathon Coaching Clinic, who come from different backgrounds and possess varying levels of fitness. "For our track squad, uniquely for our Sydney Marathon runners, they will first need to do a 1600m time trial - so four laps around the track, to establish how quick they can run over shorter distances." The initial 1600m time trial is not the only time participants will need to execute a time trial over the course of the 16 weeks leading up to 15 September, Sydney Marathon's race day. "They will also be doing 5km time trials or also something commonly known as CP20 - Critical Pace 20 to find out with a few tests where their theoretical threshold heart rates are, so that for longer runs we can better prescribe their pace and the heart rates for them to follow," added Arthur. "Last but not least once they are starting to build the endurance we will go as much as a 10km time trial to see how their endurance abilities are." Neyton Tan, Track Squad Coach at Elevate Performance Coaching emphasised on the importance of correct form while running and explained why his team places a huge emphasis on warm-up drills - taking up as much time as 20-25 minutes each session to get trainees into the right physical and mental state to take on their prescribed menus for the day. "Typically when we start off the session we'll do our warm up drills - we spend about 20-25 minutes doing the warm-ups." "Warming up properly really does make sure the athletes are ready for the workout, and we also see that it helps to prevent injuries through a correction of their form," said Neyton. "So if they do their running drills correctly, you'll notice that it's actually a breakdown of a running motion." "So through each running motion, if we have to break it down scientifically there are six main areas and once you take each of the steps and break them down, you'll notice that our drills are broken down in the six different areas. This will help them with form correction and understand where they require tweaking in their runs." Sze Yi Aw, one of the ten winners of the Sydney Marathon Coaching Clinic have found the program to be greatly beneficial for her. Although she wouldn't consider herself as new to running, she had never previously been exposed to proper coaching or structured training. Sze Yi shared: "I wouldn't say I'm not a seasoned runner, but definitely not professional and not an elite runner." "So I don't have any structured training programme usually. And this is the first time I am doing something so scientifically structured." The Sydney Marathon Coaching Clinic will continue to run till early September. All Sydney Marathon bound runners residing in Singapore can join the program on the first Thursday of every month at MOE Evans Stadium, 6.45pm. Signed up for the Sydney Marathon? Find out what special discount and benefits you are entitled to at our partners page here. #SydneyMarathon #MakeSydneyAMajor #ElevatePerformanceCoaching

Sports Broadcaster brings together an unforgettable experience for English Premier League fans, in first ever live screening of all 10 Premier League matches in a Single Venue StarHub hosted the highly anticipated ‘Football for All’ Carnival last evening, welcoming over 5,000 football fans at Sands Grand Ballroom, Marina Bay Sands. The carnival featured the first-ever live screening of all ten final matches of the Premier League season at a single venue, providing an adrenaline-packed experience. As part of StarHub’s “Football For All” initiative, the carnival aimed to bring the joy of football to everyone in Singapore and celebrate the transformative power of this beloved sport. Fans also enjoyed an exclusive meet-and-greet session with Premier League legends Luis Garcia and Shaun Wright-Phillips, capturing memorable moments and photos with their football heroes. The night culminated in a jubilant celebration as fans cheered for Manchester City's victory, rounding off an unforgettable evening of football and community spirit. Futbolita founder Ash Hasim, Premier League legends Luis Garcia and Shaun Wright-Phillips, and TV presenter Edward Russell sharing their predictions on the final showdowns. Over 5,000 passionate fans cheered for their favourite teams, creating an electrifying atmosphere at the first-ever live screening of all ten final matches of the Premier League season at a single venue. Participants were given the opportunities to partake in fun football games, some of them interactive, such as this one pictured above, where your shot speed was measured over three attempts. Those not in the mood for kicking a ball could also take part in friendly foosball games and airbrush tattoos and table-top competitions – whether you're a die-hard supporter or a casual observer, there was something for everyone at StarHub’s ‘Football for All’ Carnival. It was a night of thrills and spills, particularly for title-challenging Manchester City and Arsenal fans, with Manchester City fans here seen delighting after their team clinched a fourth straight Premier League title. #Starhub #FootballForAll #EnglishPremierLeague

Guest of Honour Minister of State Sun Xueling was part of the 10-women team to raise $10,099 under 10 minutes during the official launch Singapore, 21 May 2024 – The 18th edition of Great Eastern Women's Run (GEWR) opens for registration today with the launch event at the Guoco Tower Urban Park officiated by Ms Sun Xueling, Minister of State (MOS) for Social and Family Development and Home Affairs, and Mr Khor Hock Seng, Group Chief Executive Officer, Great Eastern. Building on last year's successful edition which saw participation from over 9,000 women, GEWR 2024 is set to take place on Sunday, 27 October, at the Singapore Sports Hub. As Singapore’s only all women’s running event, GEWR features six race categories for participants to choose from, including: • the by-invite-only 21.1km half marathon for local elite runners; • the 21.1 km half marathon, 10km and 5km runs for members of the public; • the 2km ‘Mummy and Me’ run for ladies with daughters aged five to 12; and • the 100m Princess Dash for 3- to 6-year-olds. Fitness fun for the young with Cinnamoroll Knowing that cultivating healthy habits from young is key to staying fit, Great Eastern is motivating young girls to get physically active and experience the joys of exercising together by bringing in Sanrio character Cinnamoroll as a special treat for participants of the 2km ‘Mummy + Me’ and the 100m Princess Dash categories. Besides bonding over fitness and fun, mums and daughters can look forward to exclusive GEWR X Cinnamoroll design merchandise from race tees and bibs, to medals as their GEWR race entitlements. All participants who donate $38 during the race registration process will also receive a GEWR X Cinnamoroll bag charm with an eco tote bag while stock lasts. Expanding fundraising efforts to include corporate partners GEWR has been fundraising for Daughters Of Tomorrow (DOT) and Singapore Cancer Society (SCS) through Great Eastern’s employees and financial representatives so that more underprivileged women are supported in their back-to-work journey and more cancer survivors can be integrated into everyday life. This year, GEWR included a new fundraising category for corporate partners to boost donations for these vulnerable groups. Any company is welcomed to form a team to help fundraise for these causes via the Simply Giving website at https://www.simplygiving.com/event/gewr2024. At today’s launch event, MOS Sun ran alongside representatives from Great Eastern, corporate partners 100PLUS and Blk J Havas, beneficiaries Daughters Of Tomorrow (DOT), and Singapore Cancer Society (SCS), as well as elite runners on treadmills to mark the official opening of the race registration and the start of the fundraising campaign which runs from 21 May to 29 September 2024. The 10-minute segment raised $10,099 as Great Eastern donated $1 for every metre covered over the duration. This amount, together with the $38 donations, will be aggregated and added to the proceeds from the fundraising campaign, of which 100% goes to DOT and SCS. Guest of Honour, Ms Sun Xueling, Minister of State for Social and Family Development and Home Affairs, said: “The Great Eastern Women’s Run engages women across generations and different fitness levels. It has built a strong community that bonds over wellness activities like running and walking, contributing to good health and social outcomes. It is commendable that the Great Eastern Women’s Run has also become a powerful platform for doing good by rallying the Great Eastern community as well as corporate partners to raise funds for women-centric causes and organisations.” Mr Khor Hock Seng, Group Chief Executive Officer, Great Eastern, said: “The Great Eastern Women’s Run celebrates female strength, grit, and resilience by creating a safe and supportive space for women to run and bond as a community. Every woman deserves a great run in life, and as the only race in Singapore championing female wellness and camaraderie, we want to inspire women by being the run they can always count on to help them Reach for Great. “We are delighted that corporate partners can also join us in fundraising and with their generosity and enthusiasm, we are confident of garnering more support to help the less privileged.” Commemorating Great Eastern's 116th anniversary, the first 116 women in the physical registration queue decked in their GEWR tees received a pair of complimentary race slots while the first 1,000 ladies in the registration queue walked away with a goodie bag worth up to $125. #GEWR2024 #LiveForGreat

A slew of thrilling National School Games Tennis Finals were played with Mr Edwin Tong gracing the momentous occasion for Kallang Tennis Hub Singapore, 14 May 2024 - Raffles Institution (RI) was crowned champions in the NSG Tennis ‘A’ Division Boys Final after emerging victorious against Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) (ACSI) as Kallang Tennis Hub played host to its first tournament since opening last month. Over 600 students, teachers, parents and supporters had gathered to cheer on both teams. In the NSG Tennis ‘A’ Division Girls Final, Raffles Institution edged out Hwa Chong Institution to win the championship. The newly completed KTH, which opened to the public on 15 April, is Singapore’s first indoor, international tournament-ready tennis facility. The new facility will enable Singapore to host more international tennis tournaments, while also supporting the training needs of both high performance and budding athletes under the Singapore Tennis Association and ActiveSG Tennis Academy respectively. Mr Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth & Second Minister for Law, and Mr Michael de Silva, Principal, Yishun Innova Junior College and Convenor, NSG Tennis ‘A’ Division, presented medals and trophies to RI and ACSI. The NSG Tennis ‘A’ Division 3rd and 4th placing matches on 3 May also took place at KTH. The newly completed KTH, which opened to the public on 15 April, is Singapore’s first indoor, international tournament-ready tennis facility. The new facility will enable Singapore to host more international tennis tournaments, while also supporting the training needs of both high performance and budding athletes under the Singapore Tennis Association and ActiveSG Tennis Academy respectively. Consisting of seven indoor and 12 full sized outdoor courts with a seating gallery of 1,297 capacity, the facility goes above and beyond as its also been awarded BCA's Greenmark Platinum Super Low Energy. With its inaugural tournament wrapping up triumphantly, the potential for Kallang Tennis Hub to become the stage for countless more remarkable sporting events is boundless. #KallangAlive #MySGSportsHub

Led by 25 leading athletes and key opinion leaders, Singapore's leading isotonic brand reminds cycling community about the importance of hydration amidst performance Singapore, 13 May 2024 - Led by 25 leading athletes and key opinion leaders, many of whom are prominent cyclists in the community, 100PLUS Singapore's presence at this year's 2024 OCBC Cycle event could not be ignored, with Team 100PLUS and Friends of 100PLUS making plenty of noise all over social media and on the roads in the early morning of 12 May. In the lead up to Singapore's largest mass cycling event this year, 100PLUS had engaged with close to 80 key opinion leaders as part of outreach efforts to share about the event and plans to deepen its relationship with athletes and active individuals alike by educating them on the importance of nutrition and hydration. The result and impact was significant with a multitude of OCBC Cycle participants reaching out for 100PLUS Active as their choice hydration during their rides at the 20km and 30km markers of the Sportive 40km, Brompton 40km Foldie Ride and Straits Times 20km City Ride events. Earlier this year, 100PLUS had launched its first ever brand ambassadors program with the help of Sport Plus Media Pte Ltd, a muti-platform digital story media agency and sports news company, in efforts to reach a wider spectrum of the sporting community both locally and regionally. Comprising high performance athletes and national athletes, as well as content creators who are active individuals across 10 sports, Team 100PLUS was joined by even more athletes from the Friends of 100PLUS team, as we continue to see a rise in demand for sports participation at mass events. Speaking to SportPlus.sg, program leader and Team 100PLUS athlete John Yeong shared the importance of building quality relationships amidst efforts to help 100PLUS increase brand awareness with various sporting communities. "We believe there is plenty of room for improvement in our efforts to reach more of the sporting community to spread the message of good nutrition and hydration strategies. While data shows that there are more out there post Covid who are adopting active lifestyles, there is a lack of knowledge on the importance of nutrition to support training and an athlete's lifestyle." Cycling, being one of the most popular sports in Singapore after running and badminton, has continued to see a rise in its popularity today, and 100PLUS is supporting cyclists in the best possible way at OCBC Cycle by helping them with their hydration and educating them on the best choice of hydration. Stay tuned for more Team 100PLUS and Friends of 100PLUS coming over the next month, with Spartan Singapore and HYROX Singapore on the horizon. #Team100PLUS #100PLUSSG

New 40 km category for foldable bikes will debut this year in view of its surging popularity Singapore, 5 March 2024 – OCBC’s flagship cycling event, OCBC Cycle, returns for its 16th edition on 11 and 12 May 2024. The event, which launched at orchardgateway, will welcome 9 teams from Southeast Asia (SEA) countries, including Singapore, to compete in the OCBC Cycle Speedway SEA Championship on 11 May 2024 for the first time since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. A new category – The Foldie Ride by Brompton (40km) – will debut at this year’s event and caters to the expanding fan base of cyclists riding foldable bikes. This year, OCBC Cycle 2024 also welcomes new sponsors, called ‘Friends of OCBC Cycle’, Brompton, Anywheel and Jen Singapore Orchardgateway. OCBC Cycle 2024 expects the participation of more than 7,000 cyclists across 10 categories, with 1,000 cyclists taking part in The Foldie Ride by Brompton (40km). The evergreen rides—The Sportive Ride (40km) and The Straits Times Ride (20km)—will feature again in this year’s event. Competing in the much-anticipated return of the Speedway SEA Championship are teams from Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Indonesia. Philippines took the crown in the last edition back in 2019, with Malaysia and Vietnam finishing second and third respectively. Registrations kicked off at 12.00pm on 5 March at orchardgateway by Ms Helen Wong, Group CEO of OCBC, Mr Toh Boon Yi, Deputy CEO of Sport Singapore, Mr Jaime Ho, Editor of The Straits Times and Dr Hing Siong Chen, President of Singapore Cycling Federation. At the time of the launch, over 100 participants have already formed a queue onsite for the chance to be one of the first participants to register for OCBC Cycle 2024. The first 150 onsite registrants for The Sportive Ride (40km), The Foldie Ride by Brompton (40km) and The Straits Times Ride (20km) will receive sign-up gifts from Friends of OCBC Cycle such as Samsung Galaxy Watch5 Pro, Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro, staycation package at JEN Singapore Orchardgateway, as well as vouchers and merchandise from Decathlon, orchardgateway, Brompton, Lazer, and Sunday Shades. Ms Helen Wong, Group CEO of OCBC, said: “During the past 15 years, OCBC Cycle Singapore has brought in new rides and sponsors while proudly remaining Singapore’s signature mass cycling fiesta on closed roads. Today, as we launch the event’s 16th edition, I’m reminded of how DPM Lawrence touched on sports in this year’s Singapore Budget speech. He described sports as a platform to strengthen solidarity through common experience, uniting Singaporeans from all walks of life. OCBC Cycle bears DPM Lawrence out: Families and friends get to bond on a weekend that brings together thousands of cyclists from varied backgrounds. At the same time, the competitive categories do not draw only local clubs and companies; the region’s top national cyclists – including Singapore’s – pit themselves against each other too. We hope to continue leveraging OCBC Cycle as a platform to galvanise people and communities. As ever, our gratitude goes out to all the participants for their wonderful support down the years, to the local authorities, the Land Transport Authority and Sport Singapore, for their endorsement, and to all our sponsors for their generosity.” New Foldie Ride Category by Brompton OCBC Cycle 2024 will welcome the introduction of The Foldie Ride by Brompton (40km) – a unique ride category for participants on foldable bicycles, regardless of the bicycle brand that they use. They will ride on the same route as The Sportive Ride (40km) and participants will receive a special commemorative Brompton branded event tee-shirt and medal. Brompton will be organising training rides, in the lead-up period to the event, for cyclists to be familiarised with the cycling distance and to build up their cycling proficiencies. Happy Owl Cycle, a local bicycle retailer and authorised dealer for Brompton, will be hosting bicycle maintenance workshops to guide cyclists on how to better take care of their bicycles and to handle minor technical issues during their rides. The two other evergreen mass rides, The Sportive Ride (40km) and The Straits Times Ride (20km), together with the rest of the ride categories are set to attract over 7,000 cyclists. Participants can look forward to scenic routes with roads specially closed for the event on 12 May, taking them past national landmarks and iconic features like the Benjamin Sheares Bridge, Singapore Flyer, and Gardens by the Bay, before finishing inside the National Stadium at the Singapore Sports Hub. The Mighty Savers® Kids Ride will take place on 11 May, where young cyclists between 2 and 12 years old can experience the joys of cycling with other young cyclists or their family members. The OCBC Cycle Virtual Rides, which take place from 11 May to 10 June, continue to allow participants the freedom on how and where to complete either a leisurely 100km Virtual Ride or test their endurance with the 500km Virtual Ride over a maximum of four rides, at their own convenience. Everyone who signs up onsite at the launch event enjoys 15% discount off registration fees, and OCBC Credit/Debit cardmembers enjoy an additional 10 per cent discount. Participants can also register online at www.ocbccycle.com, and those who register before 7 April 2024 will stand the chance to win a customised OCBC Cycle Brompton bicycle. Friends of OCBC Cycle Known as the ‘Friends of OCBC Cycle’, these companies and brands support OCBC Cycle’s mission in growing the cycling community and encouraging bonding amongst friends and families through cycling. These Friends of OCBC Cycle 2024 will give participants special deals, exclusive promotions, and prizes: • 100PLUS • Anywheel • Brompton • Decathlon • Great Eastern • Happy Owl Cycle • JEN Singapore Orchardgateway • Hydro Flask • Ice Mountain • Lazer • NETS • orchardgateway • Samsung • Shimano • Sunday Shades • The Straits Times • Timbuk2 More details on OCBC Cycle 2024 can be found at https://ocbccycle.com. #SportPlusSG #OCBCCycle #LetsGoCycle

OCBC partners with sporting goods retailer Decathlon and the Singapore Cycling Federation (SCF) for Teach-A-Child-To-Cycle Singapore, 27 April 2024 - OCBC partnered with sporting goods retailer Decathlon and the Singapore Cycling Federation (SCF) for the return of their corporate social responsibility programme, “Teach-a-Child-to-Cycle”. Through this programme, 43 less privileged beneficiaries will be taught fundamental cycling skills from trainers in SCF over the course of three training sessions. In addition, Decathlon will be donating a brand-new bicycle for each beneficiary, as well as safety gear worth $100, to equip them for their burgeoning cycling careers. They will also take part in the OCBC Cycle’s Mighty Savers® Kids and Family Rides on 11 May 2024. The beneficiaries, aged between 8 to 12 years old, have been carefully selected through partners Care Corner Singapore, SportCares, and Beyond Social Services. These three organisations work to support children from low-income families and, through partnerships with organisations such as OCBC, enable to experience the benefits of sport and adopting an active lifestyle. Mr Mark Yeo, 59, an OCBC volunteer, said “Cycling, like many other sports, helps the children build their self-confidence and their social skills, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of their journey to learn this important life skill. It is rewarding to see how happy the children are when they start to get the hang of how to cycle, and how proud their parents are of them too. When I see them experience the freedom on two wheels for the first time, it makes all our efforts worthwhile.” Muhammad Arsyad Zafri bin Abdullah, 11, said “I’m very happy to be able to learn a new skill by being a part of Teach-a-Child-to-Cycle, and excited to take part in the Mighty Savers Kids Rides at OCBC Cycle 2024. This programme has made me more interested in sports, and I hope to continue cycling after the event!” Alinged with what OCBC Cycle is about, the Teach-a-Child-to-Cycle programme recognises the importance of cycling as a life skill. Teaching these children how to cycle instills confidence, resilience and a sense of accomplishment in these young individuals. The provision of a new bicycle also signifies a positive change, enabling these children to overcome transportation limitations. More than 7,000 cyclists are expected to take part at OCBC Cycle 2024 across 10 categories on 11 and 12 May. The Mighty Savers® Kids and Family Rides will take place on 11 May, where young cyclists between 2 and 12 years old can experience the joys of cycling with other young cyclists or their family members along Stadium Drive, with the Singapore Sports Hub serving as a backdrop. Categories such as The Sportive Ride (40km), The Foldie Ride by Brompton (40km) and Mighty Savers® Kids and Family Rides for 5 to 12 years old are sold out this year, ahead of the close of registrations. The OCBC Speedway Championships will see the much-anticipated return of the Speedway SEA Championship, where teams from Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Indonesia expected to compete against Singapore for bragging rights for the first time since 2019. OCBC Cycle’s mass rides – The Sportive Ride (40km) and The Straits Times Ride (20km) – will take place on 12 May, alongside the new Foldie Ride by Brompton. Participants can look forward to scenic routes with roads specially closed for the event, taking them past national landmarks and iconic features like the Benjamin Sheares Bridge, Singapore Flyer, and Gardens by the Bay, before finishing inside the National Stadium at the Singapore Sports Hub. Participants can register online for the upcoming marquee cycling event at www.ocbccycle.com. In addition, members of the public may find out more information about the traffic advisories for the event weekend at https://ocbccycle.com/traffic-advisory-brochure/. #OCBCCycle #LetsGoCycle

Four-time national championships winner, Asian Games athlete and SEA Games silver medalist, Luke Chua is already one of Singapore's leading triathletes at just 23 years of age From the World Junior Championships to the Southeast Asian Games and local TriFactor races, former Temasek Polytechnic student Luke Chua has experienced countless races in his young career - but he's hungry for more. "Even if you're one of the best in Singapore, there's still so much out there," he shared. Having already gone through National Service, Luke now trains in both Singapore and Australia, where he pursues his tertiary education. How did you first get into multisport and triathlon? Luke: I started off as a swimmer. I was doing my NAPFA test and my swim coach thought I could run pretty well so he thought I could give aquathlon a go. I did that and I think I did pretty well so he said I should go into triathlon. So I picked up an extra sport in cycling and the journey started from there! You’ve won four national championships, gone to the Asian Games and achieved silver at the SEA Games, which is your proudest achievement? Luke: Qualifying for my first SEA Games, I was still 17 or 18. Qualifying for the SEA Games has got to be one of my biggest achievements. I was still pretty young so I wasn't expecting myself to be qualifying that early on, let alone get a medal. I remember that day when I qualified and crossed the finish line, it was quite overwhelming. It was very memorable for me. It might not be a big thing to others but for me, I remember it being one of the biggest moments of my life - qualifying for my first major games. What’s your favourite discipline in triathlon and why? Luke: My favourite is actually the transition, which is what we call the fourth discipline. I think the transition is a very crucial element in multisport, especially short course triathlon racing. It can definitely make or break your race. It’s also the most fun to train because it's always about practice and practice makes perfect right? How does triathlon make you feel? Luke: Sports has been part of my life my whole life. I think triathlon makes me feel a lot completer and more whole as a person. Triathlon has taught me discipline and a lot of different virtues like patience and sportsmanship. It’s also taught me resilience. It’s something that I hold very closely to myself. Without triathlon, I would be a completely different person. You’ve cycled in countless countries through many different training camps and competitions, can you share one core memory? Luke: One core memory would be my trip to France. I did a training camp there before the World Junior Championships in 2019. It was a very good experience being there. It was my first time in Europe and I got to experience many different cultures, the way people do things, riding in different weather and traffic conditions. It was a very good experience to see other athletes as well and how they train. When did you first break into the National Team and how did it feel? Luke: I think I first broke into the national team in 2017 or 2018, I was still more of a swimmer before I even did triathlon. Then, I did my first international race in 2017 and I kind of knew that I belonged there so it wasn’t something where I felt super amazed with myself. I felt it was the path I was supposed to take. I was happy to be in the team with the senior guys guiding me along! Can you describe your World Junior Championships experience and what it was like competing on the world stage so young? Luke: Coming from such a small country like Singapore, we are not really exposed to what the world standard is. So when I went there, I was shocked at how good the other kids were. You’ve got everyone who is your age and they’re doing things a lot faster than you are. I had two shots at the World Junior Championships. The first year was very overwhelming. The second year was a lot more toned down. I think I had found my rhythm a bit more and I did better at that race. It was a good experience to see where I stacked up against the rest of the world. I knew that as I grew older, these will be the people I would be racing against, so it was good to get a benchmark. What’s been some of your biggest challenges? Luke: Cycling was the last sport I picked up so it was a bit harder for me. That was a challenge I had when I first started triathlon. I think a recent one though that’s been affecting me the last few years is the mental aspect of racing. Sometimes, you don't really get a desirable outcome and it’s hard to rationalise that because you’re training so hard. I’m thinking: “My training numbers are so good so why am I not performing?" Sometimes it takes time and for Singaporean males, you need to go for NS. I just ORD-ed a year ago. It takes time to get back into the rhythm of things. The challenge is having to be patient and trusting the process that you’re training will get you to where you want to be. What were some concerns you had during NS? Luke: I was prepared to stop triathlon for a good two years, not going to lie. The best case scenario is that I get to book out and train. The worst case scenario is I can't train at all. A lot was going through my mind but what really helped me was that my parents and my coach advised me to take it day by day. I did the best I could to make the full use of it to train as much as I can. As much as I worried before NS, I think I managed my expectations really well and I was fortunate to have good people around me. What’s your biggest aspiration as an athlete? Luke: The Olympics, for sure. For every athlete, if you’re really gunning for it, the Olympics is always the way to go. I would really like to get to the Olympics some day. I will get there! Just a matter of time. #SgTriathlon #LukeChua #TeamSingapore

Global wellness and athleisure brand lululemon will be advocating wellbeing with over 50 sweat sessions at Glow Festival this July Singapore, May 9, 2024 – lululemon is proud to celebrate a decade of The Sweat life in Singapore, bringing its holistic approach to building healthier individuals and communities through sweat, connection, and personal development to this year’s premier wellness extravaganza Glow Festival. Curating a series of over 50 sweat sessions, sound bath experiences, and thoughtful wellness panel sessions across three weekends, lululemon will unite its celebrated ambassadors and partners past and present from across the globe to elevate the physical, mental, and social wellbeing of communities in Singapore and beyond. “lululemon has been championing The Sweat Life in Singapore for over a decade, embracing the transformative power of movement. As we celebrate our 10-year journey in Singapore, we are inspired by the community's unwavering support that has propelled us to evolve and grow,” said Tim Campbell-Scott, Market Director, Southeast Asia. “This year, our partnership with Glow Festival is a testament of our commitment to foster connections through wellness. With fresh experiences and dynamic ambassadors, we aim to create a space where sweat becomes a unifying force, bringing people together to celebrate The Sweat Life through shared experiences.” Over 50 sweat sessions – led by lululemon ambassadors and partners from around the world. In celebration of its 10th year, lululemon will galvanise all bodies and fitness levels in Singapore to embrace The Sweat Life at Glow Festival. Guests can take their pick from a variety of classes, including yoga, pilates, barre, spin, high-intensity training sessions, runs of all distances, and more, led by lululemon ambassadors, partner studios, and expert instructors. Get pumped with co-founder of AARMY and lululemon ambassador Akin Akman on July 13 – 14 with his signature AARMY Method that trains both the body and mind, rooted in a philosophy of constant progress. Experience the AARMY Cycle, a new standard in cycling that focuses on building a powerful foundation of form, technique, or unlock your inner athlete at the signature AARMY Bootcamp infused with energizing music to build strength and empowerment. Yoga enthusiasts can relax and recuperate alongside internationally-acclaimed Peloton yoga teacher and lululemon ambassador Dr Chelsea Jackson Roberts on July 20 – 21 as she brings her deep Midwest roots to the mat with a style of yoga that is accessible to all bodies and levels of skill. Through a unique style of yoga that blends contemporary hip-hop, electronic, and R&B with asana, the expert in slow-flow and restorative yoga will leave guests with a strong sense of belonging and accomplishment. For the runners, kick off the mornings and Get Into Strides around the Marina Bay precinct, led by lululemon ambassador and CEO of Q Gym Inc Min-kyu Park, Singapore’s fastest ironman athlete Choo Ling Er, fitness instructor Gavin Ong, chiropractor Dr. Jesse Timm, and Founder of The Social Running Club Ivan Kuek, and Superhero Runners. Those who seek tranquillity and rejuvenation can also join yoga practitioner and performing artiste Naomi Yeo for a soothing crystal alchemy sound bath session on July 21 to recharge and reconnect through movement, growth, and connection. Join the Force for holistic wellbeing Thai actor “Force” Jiratchapong Srisang will be joining an exclusive sound bath experience by lululemon on 5 July at Glow Festival at Marina Bay Sands. Five lucky fans of the actor will stand a chance to win exclusive passes to join Force for the sound bath session via @lululemonsoutheastasia social media contest from 5 June. Force is a fitness lover who exercises frequently, and believes that working out regularly helps to nurture his mind, body and soul. He made his acting debut in 2017 showcasing his versatility as an actor and gaining recognition for his talent. Since then, Force has held lead roles in a few GMMTV-produced TV series including ‘Enchanté’, ‘A Boss and A Babe’, and the highly successful ‘Only Friends’. Inspiring, nurturing discussions to fuel lives with purpose Those seeking inspiration and insightful tips can join two wellbeing panel talks at Glow Festival 2024. Rooted in the insight that nearly half of the individuals identifying as men find it challenging to express their emotions, ‘Creating Safe Spaces for Men to Find Wellbeing’ on 14 July will delve into the importance of creating safe spaces to discover, discuss, and find wellbeing through the lens of Akin Akman, Fauzi Aziz, Shawn Thia, Aidan Chemaly, and Salman Haider. In the following week on 21 July, ‘Finding Time For Wellbeing’ will uncover how women from various walks of lives tackle the universal challenge of finding balance and time amidst the hustle of life to prioritise their wellbeing, in a society where more than 2 in 3 Singaporeans don’t have time to think about it. Marrying various perspectives and viewpoints, the panel will feature Dr Chelsea Jackson Roberts, Munah Bagharib, Alicia Pan, Hailey Teo, and Jit Hui Tan. Get Into It and feel the joy of movement In celebration of its 10-year journey in Singapore, lululemon is inviting all guests to Get into It with its Multi-Talented shorts for both men and women, enabling them to move in a way that supports how they want to feel. By discovering the world of lululemon bottoms that provide maximum comfort and dependable support throughout any sort of movement, guests can play hard, dig deep, and try something new with the multitude of classes offered at Glow Festival. From incredible versatility to unbelievable weightlessness, every pair has its own claim to fame. The wide variety of shorts were designed to move with the infinite ways of working out, offering distinct functionality and reliability that empowers people in striving for their goals and feeling confident while doing it. Tickets for Glow Festival will be available for purchase from 11 May. Select packages will include an exclusive lululemon 10th year celebration T-shirt. Images of the T-shirt can be found here. Additionally, 10% of lululemon’s ticket proceeds will be donated to Samaritans of Singapore. For more information on lululemon’s schedule of events at Glow Festival and ticket sales, visit glowfestival.sg. #GlowFestivalSG #lululemonSG

OCBC Cycle mass rides a huge hit with cycling community, while Thailand claim first SEA Speedway Championships since pre-Covid days Singapore, 12 May 2024 – OCBC Cycle 2024’s mass rides continue to see strong interest from the cycling community with more than 6,200 cyclists taking to the roads at Singapore’s marquee mass cycling event today – matching last year’s in-person participation record. The newly-introduced mass ride category, The Foldie Ride by Brompton (40km), was sold out in the first month of registration. The Sportive Ride (40km) was sold out more than a week before the close of registration on 3 May 2024. A total of more than 6,800 cyclists took part in the event, which also includes the 100km and 500km Virtual Rides. The inaugural edition of The Foldie Ride by Brompton (40km) was introduced to cater to the rising interest in foldable bicycles. Partnering renowned foldable bicycle maker Brompton, this new ride category attracted over 1,000 participants, with 60 per cent of them taking part in OCBC Cycle for the first time. All registration slots for this ride category were sold out in the first month of registration, followed by another sold-out ride category of the same distance – The Sportive Ride (40km). These milestones highlight the participants’ increased cycling proficiencies and their willingness to take on longer distances. The continued, and positive, support from the cycling community serves as a testament to the event’s influence on Singaporeans as more adopt an active lifestyle through cycling, and cements OCBC Cycle as the highlight of the cycling community’s calendar in Singapore. Ms Helen Wong, Group CEO, OCBC, said: “OCBC Cycle has grown from strength to strength since 2009. The event has showcased many different cycling formats and attracted a melting pot of cyclists across different cycling proficiencies and interest groups. We welcome 45 national cyclists from nine ASEAN countries to compete in the OCBC Cycle Speedway Southeast Asia Championship on Saturday." "We knew that The Foldie Ride by Brompton would sell out fast and it did, in four weeks. Without the support of all cyclists and their families and friends, the local authorities – the Land Transport Authority and Sport Singapore – and all the partners, OCBC Cycle will not become the Cycling Event of the Year. We will continue to look at ways to enhance the experiences.” Participants of The Straits Times Ride (20km) were flagged off by Guests of Honour – Mr Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth; Ms Helen Wong, Group CEO, OCBC; Mr Alan Goh, CEO, Sport Singapore; Mr Quek Swee Kuan, CEO, Kallang Alive Sport Management; and Mr Jaime Ho, Editor, The Straits Times. Cyclists taking part in the mass rides took the rare opportunity to experience cycling through the city on closed roads, passing iconic landmarks including Benjamin Sheares Bridge, the Singapore Flyer, and Gardens by the Bay, before ending their rides inside the National Stadium. Attracting a diverse range of participants, from young riders to seniors, the mass rides embodied how the sport of cycling promotes an active lifestyle as well as social and family bonding. Mr Tong Lok Lum, 29, who participated in OCBC Cycle for the first time, said: “The Foldie Ride by Brompton (40km) has made OCBC Cycle more accessible to casual cyclists like myself. As one of the first cycling events in Singapore with a category specifically for foldies, we have a great opportunity to come together as a community and participate in the largest gathering of cycling enthusiasts in Singapore. Cycling has been an important part of my life, and essential to my daily commutes, so I could not pass on the unique chance to explore our city on closed roads.” Mdm Suriani Bte Asri, 51, who also participated in The Foldie Ride by Brompton (40km) said: “The cycling community, especially the foldie community, has really supported me on my journey. When I see my friends and loved ones complete new milestones, like cycle further and test out new routes, it inspires me to try new things, push myself further, and support other cyclists who are new to the community too. OCBC Cycle is an event where we can all come together, reunite with old friends and meet new ones too!” Across two days, more than 6,800 cyclists took part in OCBC Cycle 2024 across 10 categories. On 11 May, the OCBC Cycle Speedway Championships saw the much-anticipated return of the Speedway SEA Championship for the first time since 2019. Thailand claims title of Speedway SEA Championship Teams from Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Indonesia, competed against Singapore for bragging rights as the best in the region. Thailand emerged victorious, beating second-placed Indonesia by 18 seconds with Malaysia taking third place. In addition, Quantum Racing A and Team OCBC overcame stiff competition to be crowned champions in the Club and Corporate Championships respectively. The Mighty Savers® Kids and Family Rides also took place on 11 May, where young cyclists between 2 and 12 years old experienced the joys of cycling with other young cyclists and their family members along Stadium Drive, with the Singapore Sports Hub serving as a backdrop. This year, as part of the Teach-A-Child-To-Cycle programme under OCBC’s corporate social responsibility and outreach -- 43 beneficiaries from OCBC’s charity partners such as Care Corner Singapore, SportCares and Beyond Social Services also took part in the event. OCBC Cycle continues to catalyse the growth of the cycling culture in Singapore, and brings Singaporeans together as a community around the sport of cycling, through the rare opportunity to ride on the closed roads of the city. While the in-person categories draw to a close, OCBC Cycle continues with the 100km Virtual Ride and 500km Virtual Ride from 11 May – 10 June. More details on OCBC Cycle 2024 can be found on www.ocbccycle.com. #OCBCCycle #LetsGoCycle

Both defending SEA Games Singles Gold medalists will be making their debuts in the July showpiece event Saturday, 11 May 2024 - Singapore’s national paddlers, Izaac Quek and Zeng Jian, booked their tickets to the Paris 2024 Olympics after winning their respective singles finals at the Southeast Asian Regional Qualification Tournament in Bangkok, Thailand on Friday, 10 May. Both defending SEA Games Singles Gold medalists will be making their debuts in the July showpiece event. Izaac, who turns 18 in two weeks, received an early birthday present when he emerged victorious against veteran Phakpoom Sanguasin, 41, of Thailand in the final, 7-11, 12-10, 8-11, 11-3, 11-5, 11-5. The rising star of Singapore table tennis blocked out the noise from the 300 strong home crowd to become the youngest ever Singapore paddler to qualify for the Olympics. “Of course I am very happy to have qualified for the Olympics. It is something that I told myself would be my goal for this year, and I am glad to have achieved it”, said Izaac. “Despite being the current SEA Games champion, I told myself during this competition that everyone is on a level playing field, and I just focused on what I needed to do”, he added. Earlier, Izaac faced John Russel Misal of the Philippines in the semifinals, and survived a fightback from the Filipino to clinch his place in the final after a thrilling 4-3 victory. Despite losing the first set 7-11, Izaac stormed his way to win the next three sets, 11-5, 11-7, 11-7, but the Filipino had other ideas as he levelled the tie at 3-3 after taking the fifth and sixth sets 11-8, 11-8. However, with the small Singapore contingent behind him, Izaac gained in confidence and rose to the occasion, winning the deciding set, 11-5, and seal his place in the final. Singapore’s number one female paddler, Zeng Jian, 27, had a relatively straightforward game against Vietnam’s Nguyen Khanh in the Women’s Singles Final. Zeng stormed to a 3-0 lead, winning 11-7, 11-6, 11-8, before dropping the fourth set 9-11 to the Vietnamese. It was a see-saw battle in the fifth set, with Khanh looking to stay in the match and Zeng looking to book her ticket, and it was the Singaporean who held her nerve to win 12-10. “I am thankful for the support from the team, and with the confidence of having won the SEA Games gold medal, I managed to book my spot. All the top players will be at Paris, so I would like to perform to my best and go as far as possible and leave with no regrets”, said Zeng. #TableTennis #Paris2024 #Olympics