OCBC and Lions Befrienders launch two-year Esports programme for seniors
OCBC and Lions Befrienders launch two-year Esports programme for seniors
(From left to right) Mr Dennis Ooi, President of SCOGA, Mr Tan Teck Long, Group CEO of OCBC, Mr David Neo, Grassroots Adviser to Tampines GRC Grassroots Organisation, Mr Alex Lim, Chairman of Lions Befrienders and Mdm Norhana Binti Yahaya, Lions Befrienders beneficiary at the launch of OCBC-Lions Befrienders Senior Esports Programme held at Tampines North Community Club.
At a glance
- OCBC will fund $100,000 to support 2,400 free Esports coaching sessions for 200 seniors, enhancing cognitive and physical wellness through gaming.
- The programme aims to leverage Esports to demonstrate how gaming technology can promote active ageing.
- OCBC volunteers and professional Esports coaches will guide the seniors.
Singapore, 27 June 2026 – OCBC and social service agency Lions Befrienders today launched the “OCBC-Lions Befrienders Senior Esports Programme”, which introduces Esports as a platform to promote active ageing and foster social connection among seniors. OCBC will contribute $100,000 over two years to deliver 2,400 Esports coaching sessions held in gaming facilities at Bishan, Pasir Ris and Jurong West, benefiting 200 of the agency’s members. About 800 OCBC volunteers will partner coaches from the Singapore Cybersports and Online Gaming Association (SCOGA) to support the programme.
Mr Tan Teck Long, Group CEO of OCBC, said: “Flower-arranging, mahjong or painting are the kinds of activities often cited as ways to promote ‘active ageing’. But why not deploy technology? When Lions Befrienders suggested partnering up so seniors could try Esports, we jumped at the idea. The likes of Counter Strike 2 or Nintendo-based fitness titles blend gaming technology, physical activity, cognitive engagement, and social interaction in one attractive package. No wonder the seniors were playing enthusiastically and quite competitively this afternoon. Better yet, since Esports is popular with the younger set, it provides a great topic of conversation and bonding with the grandkids.”
Silver Esports Carnival with a more diverse approach to engage seniors
At the Silver Esports Carnival held at Tampines North Community Club today, Mr David Neo, Grassroots Adviser to Tampines GRC Grassroots Organisations, joined Mr Tan Teck Long, Group CEO of OCBC, Mr Alex Lim, Chairman of Lions Befrienders, and Mr Dennis Ooi, President of Singapore Cybersports and Online Gaming Association, to officiate the programme launch. This is the second edition of the sports carnival organised by Lions Befrienders and SCOGA, with OCBC coming into as a partner of the event. The Silver Esports Carnival, which is open to the residents of Tampines North, serves as the ideal launchpad to kickstart the recruitment and introduction of the OCBC-Lions Befrienders Senior Esports Programme given its reach to seniors and residents within the community.
With Singapore becoming a super-aged society, addressing social isolation among seniors and keeping them active is increasingly important. Feedback gathered by Lions Befrienders’ family coaches indicates a growing interest among seniors to exploring a broader range of programmes, beyond existing activities like arts and crafts, board games and karaoke.
The “OCBC-Lions Befrienders Senior Esports Programme” will see seniors playing a curated selection of Nintendo Switch and Personal Computer (PC) games. These games have been selected by SCOGA for the seniors due to their ability to support both cognitive and physical development, strengthen seniors’ reaction time, hand-eye coordination, teamwork and communication, while promoting physical well-being through improved balance, strength and mobility during digital gameplay.
| Nintendo Switch Games | |
| Nintendo Switch Sports - Basketball, tennis and bowling | An intuitive, real-world sports gameplay (such as basketball, tennis and bowling) that improves balance, coordination and social interaction through active play. |
| Just Dance | An energetic dance game that blends music with guided movement. It encourages physical activity, supports cognitive engagement through rhythm and memory, and boosts mood in a highly accessible format. |
| Ring Fit Adventure | An interactive fitness game that uses a Ring-Con (Pilates ring) and leg strap to guide players through a series of physical |
| exercises integrated into gameplay, helping to improve strength, balance and overall mobility. | |
| PC Games | |
| Counter-Strike 2 | A first-person shooter game that builds attention, reaction speed and decision-making while encouraging teamwork and communication. |
| Street Fighter 6 | A competitive fighting game where players control characters in one-on-one battles, using a mix of attacks and special moves. It enhances hand-eye coordination and strategic thinking, with nostalgic appeal to sustain engagement. |
SCOGA will provide Esports coaches to guide the seniors, with OCBC volunteers playing a key support role by helping seniors navigate the game consoles and controllers and actively engaging them as sparring partners during gameplay.
From training to competition: Taking active ageing to the next level
The programme starts with an inaugural cohort of 100 seniors in its first year, followed by a second cohort of 100 in the second. They will undergo 12-week training sessions focusing on teamwork, communication and strategy. Sessions will be conducted in small groups of eight to 10 seniors, fostering social inclusion through intergenerational interaction, teamwork and peer support.
Up to 40% of participants from the first cohort of this programme will return as peer mentors. From a local study by Nanyang Technological University and Duke-NUS Medical School, findings show that volunteering enables seniors to build broader social networks beyond immediate family, allowing them to benefit from stronger social support and improved quality of life — hence, reinforcing the value of a sustainable, peer-led support model within the community.
Competitions will be organised by Lions Befrienders in November 2026 where the seniors can compete, showcase, and put their newly acquired skills into practice. Senior ‘talents’ will be selected to don the agency’s colours at the “Silver Showdown”, a national seniors Esports competition organised by SCOGA
– with the first cohort competing in December 2026.
Ms Karen Wee, Executive Director, Lions Befrienders, said: “As our population ages, we must evolve our approach to active ageing. Partnering OCBC on this milestone programme allows us to break traditional stereotypes of eldercare through the world of Esports. Esports provides an incredible bridge – not only stimulating cognitive and physical health but also reaching a younger, incoming segment of seniors who are tech-savvy and seeking purposeful engagement. This is also the first time we are incorporating a structured programme with physical exercises to be played on gaming consoles, adding a new digital dimension to our existing suite of engaging activities for our seniors. By transforming participants into peer mentors, we are building a sustainable, community-led model where seniors empower seniors to thrive with dignity in the digital era.”
