Attendance at pools and stadiums falls 12% as haze curbs outdoor exercise

Warren Golf and Country Club in Chua Chu Kang has also observed a 20 per cent drop in weekly attendance due to the haze.

The outdoor swimming pool at ActiveSG Sport Park @ Teck Ghee on Oct 9, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Natalie Ong)

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SINGAPORE: With Singapore shrouded in persistent haze and air quality readings remaining in the unhealthy range, some residents are cutting back on outdoor exercise.

The impact has been felt across ActiveSG facilities. Sport Singapore told CNA that the average weekly attendance at ActiveSG stadiums and swimming pools fell about 12 per cent in the last three weeks of September compared with attendance between June and August.

Singapore's central region has been among the hardest hit by the haze, recording unhealthy Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) readings multiple times since levels first breached the threshold on Sep 4. Last Friday (Oct 9), the 24-hour PSI reading hit 192 there, the highest level so far this haze season.

A swim coach based at ActiveSG Sport Park @ Teck Ghee Swimming Complex in Ang Mo Kio told CNA that around 40 per cent of his classes had been cancelled over the past week.

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The man, who declined to be named, said the cancellations were due to parents concerned about their children’s health.

When CNA visited Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park last week, it was quieter than usual, with some regular park-goers choosing to exercise indoors instead at ActiveSG Sport Park @ Teck Ghee Gym across the road.

“Normally, we do it outdoor. Opposite here is the park where there are many groups of people doing exercise," said 81-year-old retiree Richard Tan at the gym. "The group (I joined) has suspended the exercise. They will continue to monitor. (When) the level comes down, then they will resume the exercise.”

Another gym user who asked to be identified only as Nadine, said: “Usually I run outdoors, two to three times per week. But now I just run in the gym.”

“I check the PSI level before exercising. So naturally, I'll come to the gym instead of outdoors (if the levels are high),” added 56-year-old real estate agent Charlene Aw.

Golfers at Warren Golf and Country Club on Oct 9, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Natalie Ong)

COUNTRY CLUBS HIT BY HAZE

Warren Golf and Country Club in Chua Chu Kang has also observed a 20 per cent decline in weekly attendance.

"Compared to last week when the haze (PSI) is about 100 average, we have full flights of around 120 to 140 golfers. But with haze like this ... we have cancellations ... so it drops down to maybe 80 golfers a day," said Mr Stanley Ang, the club’s golf captain.

“Usually, we have a system where you're not allowed to cancel unless you have good reasons,” he added.

“But with the haze like this, we allow (our members) last-minute cancellation. That's to deter them from coming (outdoors), especially the older ones. We do have a lot of senior golfers playing.”

The club issued an advisory to golfers in early September, and is prepared to close its course if 24-hr PSI readings exceed 200.

LIMIT OUTDOOR EXERCISE ON HAZY DAYS

Health experts say people should consider both the intensity and duration of outdoor exercise when haze levels are elevated.

Dr Gerald Fung, medical director at Unihealth 24-HR Clinic (Yishun), said it is “the total exposure to the haze and the pollutants that matters”.

“A one-hour pickleball game is usually more intense so you breathe in more air per minute,” he said.

“A round of golf is less intense but can last around four to five hours. If you're walking the (golf) course, over time the total amount of pollutants you inhale could be quite similar or even higher. So, golf is not (necessarily) the safer option.”

While there are no fixed cut-offs for outdoor activities amid the haze, Dr Fung advised those exercising outdoors to limit their sessions to around 30 to 60 minutes on hazy days where possible.

They should move their workouts indoors if air quality worsens and consider reducing both the intensity and duration of their exercise.

People should also stop exercising and seek medical advice if they experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest tightness or wheezing, while those with asthma should keep their inhalers with them, he added.

SportSG said its programmes, including those organised by ActiveSG academies and clubs, are guided by its Haze Management Plan, which is aligned with the National Environment Agency's haze advisories.

Depending on conditions, coaches may adjust the intensity of activities and provide additional breaks.

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蔡厝港的沃伦高尔夫乡村俱乐部也注意到，由于雾霾的影响，每周的到场人数下降了 20%。

2026年10月9日，ActiveSG体育公园@德义的室外游泳池。（图片：CNA/Natalie Ong）

这段音频是由人工智能工具生成的。

新加坡：由于新加坡持续笼罩​​在雾霾之中，空气质量读数仍处于不健康水平，一些居民正在减少户外运动。

ActiveSG旗下所有设施都受到了影响。新加坡体育理事会告诉亚洲新闻台，9月最后三周ActiveSG旗下体育场馆和游泳池的平均每周到访量比6月至8月期间下降了约12%。

新加坡中部地区是受雾霾影响最严重的地区之一，自 9 月 4 日污染物浓度首次突破阈值以来，该地区多次记录到不健康的污染物标准指数 (PSI) 读数。上周五（10 月 9 日），该地区 24 小时 PSI 读数达到 192，是本雾霾季迄今为止的最高水平。

一位在宏茂桥德义游泳中心ActiveSG体育公园工作的游泳教练告诉亚洲新闻台，过去一周他大约有40%的课程被取消了。

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这位不愿透露姓名的男子表示，取消活动的原因是家长们担心孩子的健康。

上周，CNA 记者走访碧山-宏茂桥公园时发现，公园比往常安静许多，一些经常去公园的人选择到马路对面的 ActiveSG 运动公园 @ Teck Ghee 健身房进行室内锻炼。

“我们通常在户外锻炼。对面就是公园，那里有很多团体在锻炼，”81岁的退休老人理查德·谭在健身房说道。“我所在的团体已经暂停锻炼了。他们会继续观察情况。等疫情等级下降后，他们就会恢复锻炼。”

另一位要求只透露自己名叫娜丁的健身房用户说：“我通常每周在户外跑步两到三次。但现在我只在健身房跑步了。”

“我会在锻炼前查看PSI值。所以，如果PSI值高，我自然会选择去健身房而不是在户外锻炼，”56岁的房地产经纪人Charlene Aw补充道。

2026年10月9日，沃伦高尔夫乡村俱乐部的球手们。（图片：CNA/Natalie Ong）

乡村俱乐部受雾霾影响

蔡厝港的沃伦高尔夫乡村俱乐部也发现每周到场人数下降了 20%。

“与上周雾霾（PSI）平均约为100时相比，我们每天大约有120至140名高尔夫球手乘坐满座航班。但像现在这样的雾霾……我们不得不取消航班……所以每天的高尔夫球手人数可能会下降到80人左右，”俱乐部高尔夫球队长斯坦利·昂先生说道。

“通常情况下，除非有正当理由，否则我们不允许取消预订，”他补充道。

“但像现在这种雾霾天气，我们允许会员临时取消预订。这样做是为了避免他们（外出）活动，尤其是老年人。我们这里有很多老年高尔夫球手。”

俱乐部在 9 月初向高尔夫球手发布了公告，并准备在 24 小时 PSI 读数超过 200 时关闭球场。

雾霾天限制户外运动

健康专家表示，当雾霾程度较高时，人们应该同时考虑户外运动的强度和持续时间。

义顺联合健康24小时诊所医疗总监冯杰拉德医生表示，“重要的是接触雾霾和污染物的总量”。

他说：“一场持续一小时的匹克球比赛通常强度更大，所以你每分钟吸入的空气量也会更多。”

“打一场高尔夫球强度虽然不大，但也要​​持续四到五个小时。如果你步行打球，随着时间的推移，你吸入的污染物总量可能与运动相当，甚至更高。所以，打高尔夫球（未必）是更安全的选择。”

虽然雾霾天气下户外活动没有固定时间限制，但冯医生建议，在雾霾天，户外运动者应尽可能将运动时间限制在 30 至 60 分钟左右。

如果空气质量恶化，他们应该将锻炼转移到室内，并考虑降低锻炼强度和缩短锻炼时间。

他还补充说，如果出现呼吸急促、胸闷或喘息等症状，人们应该停止锻炼并寻求医疗建议；而患有哮喘的人应该随身携带吸入器。

SportSG表示，其各项计划，包括ActiveSG学院和俱乐部组织的计划，均以《雾霾管理计划》为指导，该计划与国家环境局的雾霾建议保持一致。

根据实际情况，教练可能会调整训练强度并提供额外的休息时间。

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