Community event for all at opening of Sports Hub in June 2014

Members of public to be among first to experience the facilities in June

By May Chen, The Straits Times, 28 Feb 2014

THE public will be among the first to run, play and swim at the Sports Hub's facilities when it is fully completed in June.

The Community Sports Festival will be held alongside three international events to mark the opening of the facilities, giving the public their first chance to use the $1.33 billion hub.

The three events are the South-east Asia Swimming Championships (June 14-26) at the OCBC Aquatic Centre, the World University Floorball Championships (June 18-22) at the OCBC Arena, and the rugby World Club 10s (June 21-22) at the National Stadium.

The one-year countdown to the SEA Games, which Singapore is hosting from June 5-16 next year, will also take place at the same time. These were unveiled yesterday, alongside a calendar of 13 sporting and 11 entertainment events that will take place at the 35ha hub this year.

Said Singapore Sports Council chief executive Lim Teck Yin: "It is very important that before anything else happens, we should have a large sporting event for the community to come in, play and experience the facilities first-hand."

Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Lawrence Wong, in a Facebook post yesterday, said it was important that a community event be among the Sports Hub's first order of business. He wrote: "I've specifically asked for this to be the first event at the Sports Hub, so that we can launch (it) on the right footing - as a community space and public venue for all Singaporeans to enjoy."

Said Ms Alicia Ng, a 35-year-old teacher with two children: "I'm excited about the fact that there'll be many different sports facilities in one venue. This will give everyone in my family adequate opportunities to do what they enjoy."

Specific dates for the festival will be fixed after the availability of the facilities is confirmed.

But both sports and music fans can start clearing their calendars.

Among the events that have been pencilled in are a clash between Singapore and Malaysia on Aug 8, the first football match at the National Stadium, and the Women's Tennis Association Championships from Oct 17-26.

Taiwanese megastar Jay Chou will be the first music act at the National Stadium on Nov 8.

Sports Hub chief executive Philippe Collin Delavaud promised more events will be announced soon. He said: "We are inking, and will ink a lot more events in the weeks and months to come."

While most of the hub is on track for completion in April, work on the stadium's retractable roof and movable seating means the 55,000-seater is slated to be ready only around June - a target the Government is keeping its eye on.

Said Mr Wong: "The private consortium in charge of the project has promised us that the stadium will be completed in time for the events in June. We will hold them accountable, and make sure they complete the project safely and on time."

Post by Singapore Sports Hub.

Uniquely Singapore events the key goal for Sports Hub
Long-term strategy is to develop events anchored in Singapore
By May Chen, The Straits Times, 28 Feb 2014

THE likes of Serie A champions Juventus and Fifa World Cup holders Spain might be headed for Singapore's shores soon.

The Straits Times understands that match promoters and the Football Association of Singapore are in advanced stages of a deal that would see Spain and Italian giants Juventus play a match at the new National Stadium this year.

Football is seen as one of the few sports that can fill the 55,000-seat National Stadium on a regular basis. Yet, even as one of the Sports Hub's key goals will be to attract big-name football teams for one-off matches, the long-term strategy for the $1.33 billion facility is to develop events that are anchored in Singapore.

For example, the Women's Tennis Association Championships will call Singapore home for the next five years. Likewise, the Singapore Swim Stars event is set for a minimum five-year deal. Such longer-term contracts are being sought in the hope that these events, which will also see top athletes conducting clinics for young people here, will leave an impact on the local sporting landscape.

"Our event strategy is aimed at ensuring that the event portfolio contributes to the sporting ecosystem by having a social, sporting and industry impact," said Singapore Sports Council (SSC) chief executive Lim Teck Yin. "We are looking at events that will inspire people to participate in and bond through sports, and celebrate our identity, be it at the community, team or national level."

Economically, there are also benefits of having a uniquely Singapore event. The annual Singapore Grand Prix, the world's only Formula One night race, has enjoyed an average crowd of more than 250,000 people since its inaugural race in 2008. Each race weekend attracted about $150 million in extra tourism receipts from the first five editions and about 40,000 visitors from abroad over the race weekend.

Singapore Rugby Union (SRU) president Low Teo Ping is well aware of the need to create an event that Singapore can call its own.

On that note, the SRU has, in the pipeline, an annual event which will feature global teams at the National Stadium for the next decade. It is expected to be finalised over the next few weeks. Said Mr Low, who is also vice-president of the Singapore National Olympic Council: "You've got to have your own property if you want to develop sports here."

There is also hope that the Asean Super League, a Singapore brainchild featuring top teams from the region, will help fill the National Stadium on a regular basis when it makes its debut next year.

Football Association of Singapore president Zainudin Nordin said: "It's not just about a one-off (occurrence) of having 55,000 people fill the stadium. It's about bringing people back regularly."

Sports Hub chief executive Philippe Collin Delavaud said: "Having an exhibition (event), and a major sports event that happens once every 10 years is OK, but what's important is for Singaporeans to move from television screens and lounges back to the National Stadium, OCBC Arena and the OCBC Aquatic Centre, and really be a part of the sports."