SINGAPORE — They promised free use of the Sports Hub, a state-of-the-art, world-class facility built for the ordinary Singaporean, and now the dates are set. From June 30 to July 31, the S$1.33 billion multi-venue facility in Kallang will be open to the public to play sports such as basketball and badminton, and swim at the aquatic centre’s pools for free.

The month-long initiative is part of SportsHub Pte Ltd’s (SHPL) drive to engage the community and break in the facilities at the new 35ha site after the hosting of its first event at the National Stadium, the inaugural rugby World Club 10s (June 21-22).

The public will get free access to the OCBC Arena, OCBC Aquatic Centre, and water sports centre, although the National Stadium’s football field remains out of bounds. Details on how to book these facilities will only be confirmed at a later date.

SHPL’s chief operating officer Oon Jin Teik stressed that the programming and community involvement will be crucial to the facility’s success, during a media tour yesterday to explain facets of the Sports Hub’s unique design.

“This project is designed wholeheartedly for Singaporeans … this is a new product, and we will keep the first month free so that the community can come in and enjoy it as much as they can,” said Oon.

“This was never designed to host a major Games, it was designed with community facilities and access in mind. The old stadium is (just) one venue, it’s through the programmes that we ignite the passion again so we need to create a connection and bonding.”

A community Open House will also be held on June 27 and 28.

While booking details and entry fees for the Sports Hub — after the one-month free trial ends — have not been finalised, Oon said that prices will be kept affordable.

“We are going through the whole discussion so there are no final numbers,” he said.

“The whole project is meant for the community to come for shopping, spectate, for elite athletes and recreation, and we want it to be something that’s close to the community.”

Touted as the world’s largest public-private-partnership, the Sports Hub project will also feature a range of sports facilities for the community, including a skate park, fitness corners, jogging and cycling paths, bowling lawn and beach volleyball courts.

Its crown jewel, the 55,000-capacity National Stadium, will also be the first stadium in the world capable of hosting cricket matches along with football, rugby and track and field meets.

While mega sports developments built to host major Games have often ended up afflicted with the “white elephant” syndrome — the facilities for the 2004 Olympics in Athens, or the “Bird’s Nest” Stadium in Beijing for the 2008 Games, for example — the Sports Hub is keen to avoid a similar fate.

Said Oon: “We need a portfolio of events that provide segments of the community with opportunities to participate.

“We need flexibility, modularity and scalability in whatever we do so we have the ability to change. Concrete is static, but programmes cannot remain static.”

Events at the Sports Hub this month:

Jun 14-26: TYR 2nd South-east Asian Swimming Championships, OCBC Aquatic Centre

Jun 18-22: World University Floorball Championships (June 18 – 22), OCBC Arena

Jun 21-22: Rugby World Club 10s, National Stadium

Jun 27-28: Community Open House