No lessons, no pay: Sports coaches hit by haze cancellations, facility closures
Sports coaches in Singapore are facing significant income loss due to the cancellation of lessons caused by worsening haze and the closure of public sports facilities. The uncertainty of the situation has made it difficult for freelance instructors to maintain their schedules.
Why it matters
Illustrates the economic impact of environmental crises on gig workers and small-scale service providers.
Coaches say the fluctuating air quality and facility closures have made it difficult to plan their schedules and find alternative venues for lessons.
A notice announcing the temporary closure of outdoor and non-air-conditioned facilities at Clementi Sport Centre due to unhealthy haze levels on Oct 16, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Mak Jia Kee)
Nicole Lam & Charmaine Jacob 16 Oct 2026 03:12PM (Updated: 16 Oct 2026 05:43PM) Bookmark Bookmark Share WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Set CNA as your preferred source on Google Add CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results. Read a summary of this article on FAST. Get bite-sized news via a new cards interface. Give it a try. Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST FAST SINGAPORE: For senior swim coach Grayson Ong, the worsening haze has meant cancelled lessons and lost income.
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