Intern gains international sports experience at World Aquatics Championships

Ana-Rachel: "My time in Singapore shaped me both professionally and personally."

When I first arrived in Singapore, I was filled with both nerves and excitement. A once in a lifetime opportunity to spend three months interning with Sport Singapore.

My journey started at the Singapore Sports School, where I spent time meeting the many different teams that make up Sport Singapore. I learned there that each group had a unique role, but they were all united by a common mission: to use sport as a tool for community building and national pride.

One of the highlights was learning about My 1st Coach, an initiative run by CoachSG that recognises a child’s first coach is often their parent or caregiver and focuses on equipping them to support their child’s development through sport.

Hearing about this reminded me of my own parents, who were my first coaches in many ways - not just teaching me the basics of sport, but also guiding me with the values and encouragement that continue to shape who I am today.

This introduction to the organisation reminded me that sport is not only about competition. It is about values, connection, and helping people grow.

Preparing for the Championships

Soon after my introduction to Sport Singapore, I joined the Secretariat team for the World Aquatics Championships. My role in the International Relations team involved preparing resources, job descriptions, and working processes for the event. With the Championships fast approaching, the office was a hive of activity.

I also worked on the Games Management System, approving applications for athletes and officials for both the World Aquatics Championships and the Masters Championships. At first, the systems felt daunting, but I soon realised how important this work was. Every approval represented an individual about to compete on the world stage, as well as a country. I felt a sense of responsibility to get things right.

Ana-Rachel: "I learned that success does not happen by accident. Instead, it comes from the hundreds of people that work tirelessly in the background..."

I found that the work was demanding but also rewarding. It gave me a behind-the-scenes look at just how much planning goes into hosting an international sporting event. I learned that success does not happen by accident. Instead, it comes from the hundreds of people that work tirelessly in the background, each playing their part to bring the dream to fruition.

Living at the Sports Hub

After settling into the rhythm of preparation, I moved to the Singapore Sports Hub. Living there changed everything. It meant that I was right in the heart of the action, and it gave me the chance to experience Games in a much deeper way.

Part of my role was helping facilitate Local Organising Committee meetings. These were intense but fascinating, with discussions ranging from venue operations to water quality readings for open-water swimming. It was here that I realised how complex event management can be, and how quickly teams must adapt when challenges arise.

Working alongside colleagues from different countries also gave me valuable cross-cultural experience, showing me how diverse perspectives contribute to problem-solving and effective teamwork.

Games time in action

Once the Championships began, my days became faster and more varied. At Sentosa Beach, I helped with the open water swim, tattooing numbers on athletes’ arms and preparing their transmitters. Watching Masters athletes as old as 83 dive into the sea showed me that sport truly has no age limit.

More than 2500 athletes from some 200 countries competed at the championships

In the call rooms for swimming and water polo, I saw athletes preparing in their own ways. Some focused in silence, while others stretched or listened to music. Seeing this up close gave me a deeper appreciation for the discipline and mental strength behind elite performance and reminded me that even top athletes feel nerves.

I also supported the redemption booth at the Fan Zone, where the public took part in challenges to engage with the Championships. There, I met volunteers from Team Nila whose dedication was inspiring. Many were retirees who said volunteering gave them purpose and connection, showing me that passion for sport extends far beyond competition.

Celebration and reflection

My internship also coincided with Singapore’s National Day celebrations, which made the city even more vibrant. This year marked 60 years of Singapore’s independence and 60 years of diplomatic ties with New Zealand. I was fortunate to attend the New Zealand High Commission’s Matariki celebration, where Gabrielle Rush spoke about whakapapa, tūpuna, and vā.

As someone who was born in New Zealand and was raised with these concepts, her words were a reminder to me of my heritage and the connections I carry wherever I go.

Beyond the official work, I found grounding in small daily rituals. Most mornings, I would head to the Sports Hub courts to shoot hoops as the sun rose or go for a quick bike ride around Marina Bay. Those quiet moments became a space of reflection, reminding me to stay grateful, focused, and connected to my purpose.

Looking back

My time in Singapore shaped me both professionally and personally. I gained experience in event management and international relations while growing in resilience, humility, and cultural understanding.

Working with people from many different cultures, from the Secretariat team to international athletes and Team Nila volunteers, showed me that sport is a shared language. Respect, teamwork, and service may look different across cultures, but they are the same values that unite us.

I was grateful to be part of such a welcoming team who made me feel at home through shared meals and laughter, even taking me to the zoo before I left. These small moments became my favourite memories.

This internship reminded me that sport is not just about medals, but about people, service, and the connections that bring us together.

The Foundation's Sports Programme provides New Zealand sportspeople and administrators opportunities to grow more knowledgeable, connected and confident with Asia.

The Foundation's Sport Singapore internship is an opportunity for young New Zealanders to intern for three months at Singapore's lead agency tasked with developing sports culture.