SINGAPORE — The pressure an athlete goes through can be very intense, particularly when the hopes and expectations of an entire nation is on them to succeed.

To help them manage that, the NILA Suite was unveiled by the Singapore South-east Asian (SEA) Games Organising Committee (SINGSOC) yesterday.

Situated at the Kallang Theatre, the 600sqm facility, which is the brainchild of Sport Singapore chief executive officer Lim Teck Yin, boasts a canteen, laptops, karaoke, Xbox gaming consoles, a photo booth, arcade games and a laundry area with 17 washing machines.

But Laura Reid, deputy director of SportCares Foundation stressed that the main objective of the NILA Suite is for the athletes to forge closer friendships and cultural integration.

“He (Lim) competed in SEA Games and experienced the Games Village in the Commonwealth and Asian Games, so he understands the value of athletes to get to know each other. This suite is like a miniature Games Village,” said Reid.

Among those who gave the NILA Suite the thumbs up was Singapore national fencer Lee Huimin.

She said: “This place helps you relax and take your mind off the games. Food also helps you bond with people from all sports.”

The Suite is open only to the 3,666 athletes competing at the SEA Games and it will be run by underprivileged and at-risk youth under the auspices of the SportCares Foundation.

“One of our volunteers was here when (Singapore national hurdler) Dipna Lim-Prasad came in,” said Reid.

“The picture they took with them was priceless because he is an aspiring runner and he couldn’t believe it (meeting Lim-Prasad) was happening to him.”

Shanjayan Muniappan