Sports intern experiences the pulse of Singapore sport
On her very first day as an intern at Sport Singapore, Emily Sidaway was thrown straight into the action — supporting the Singapore Sevens and watching the New Zealand women crowned champions. Over the following three months, she gained hands-on experience across a wide range of sporting activities and initiatives led by Singapore’s national sports agency. Beyond the workplace, Emily also immersed herself in the island nation’s diversity, exploring its people, cultures, food, and environment.
Emily: "What began as a step toward a career in sport quickly became so much more."
What began as a step toward a career in sport quickly became so much more.
My time in Singapore began on day one with assisting at the Singapore Sevens. It was my first visit to the stadium and watching the Black Ferns secure a win was a definite highlight. It immediately set the tone for an incredible experience.
The internship was with Sport Singapore, the country’s national sporting body. I was so impressed by the facilities and technology available to athletes in Singapore — what makes Singapore unique is that everything is under one roof located at the Sportshub.
I worked specifically within CoachSG, primarily in the Performance Coaching team. A large part of my role focused on developing and upskilling coaches across Singapore, contributing to the ongoing refinement of the national coaching and sport science curriculum.
I had the opportunity to collaborate with some of the national coaches, and I found this really interesting. We hosted a coaches appreciation night at Changi Jewel—a nature-themed entertainment complex connected to Changi International Airport—and had other engagements where coaches shared their experiences at major sporting events.
Emily with fellow Sports Singapore intern Havana Beal (left) and Azhar Yusof, head of CoachSG at Sport Singapore
During my internship, experts in the field of coach development visited Singapore from Japan, Canada, UK and New Zealand. It was very valuable hearing from them and their international experience.
In addition to my main role, I also worked alongside strength-and-conditioning coaches within Unleash the Roar, a football initiative under Sport Singapore. This allowed me to observe the youth development pathway within Singapore’s sporting system.
I had opportunities to collaborate with the biomechanics team, learning how performance data and movement analysis inform decision-making in sport. I also volunteered at a local rhythmic gymnastics club, a passion of mine, which further deepened my understanding of the wider sporting ecosystem in Singapore.
While much of my work was based at the stadium office, there were also opportunities to work off-site. I assisted in delivering Safe Sport workshops at various universities and polytechnics, which added another dimension to the experience and allowed me to travel across different parts of the country.
Emily meeting with football initiative Unleash the Roar
I lived in a condo within walking distance of work. Despite this, I quickly adapted to using the MRT system to get around, finding Singapore to be extremely easy to navigate, with excellent transport links and access to everything needed for daily life. I also found the heat surprisingly manageable and even enjoyable.
The daily routine was structured, typically running from 9:30am to 5:00pm. One thing that surprised me was the length of the lunch break, often up to 90 minutes, with most people choosing to eat out.
I worked Monday to Friday, and this consistency made it easy to establish a routine while still leaving weekends free to explore. I made the most of this time by travelling around Singapore and even taking short trips to Malaysia and Indonesia to further enhance my experience in Southeast Asia.
Some of my highlights in Singapore were walking around Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay Sands, and China Town as well as spending time on Sentosa Island and visiting the zoo.
Emiliy's Singapore photos, including of the Rugby Sevens being played at National Stadium (left) and Sentosa Island (right)
My internship coincided with both Chinese New Year and Hari Raya. These events allowed me to fully experience Singapore’s multicultural identity. In the office, we took part in numerous Chinese New Year celebrations, including lo hei salad prosperity tosses, dragon dance performances, fireworks, and lantern displays.
During Ramadan, with the city decorated with lights, I visited the Geylang Bazaar to try traditional Malay food with colleagues. On top of the traditional festive foods, I was exposed to a variety of new foods and enjoyed trying new things including the infamous durian!
Through the internship, I have gained valuable professional experience that will benefit my future career, as well as cultural and life experiences that have significantly shaped my perspective of the world.
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.
