Final SEA Games prep on track

SINGAPORE — Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Lawrence Wong told Parliament today (May 11) that  the new grass being grown for the National Stadium pitch will be laid in time for the first field-event four days after the SEA Games opening ceremony on June 5.

Responding to queries from Jurong GRC MP David Ong on the status of the field at the 55,000-seater arena, Wong said the existing grass underneath is already damaged as it has been covered for weeks for rehearsals in preparation for the opening ceremony.

But Wong assured the House that the new turf being grown at a separate location by the stadium operators, Sports Hub Pte Ltd (SHPL), will be laid before the start of the hammer throw competition on June 9.

“As I have explained before, SHPL has already put in place a lay-and-play system solution, meaning to say they are growing the grass somewhere else and will be laying it on later when the pitch is needed,” said Wong. “So if you were to go to the National Stadium now ... naturally when you open the covering, all the grass there would have died. It is only natural because it was covered for days and weeks.”

The minister said the new turf, which is being grown at an undisclosed location, is growing well and the quality is good.

Giving Parliament an update on ticket sales, the minister said they have been “uneven”, as some sports have just announced their fixtures for their respective competition and will need more time to sell.

But overall ticket sales have been better than expected. According to the Singapore SEA Games Organising Committee, more than 70 per cent of tickets have been sold for several sports, while those for the opening ceremony have been completely snapped up.

Nonetheless, Wong urged Singaporeans not to miss the opportunity to support Team Singapore on home ground and in a new competition venue in the Sports Hub, because it would be another two decades before the Games make their way here again.

“It is true we will host the SEA Games again (in) 20-plus years,” he said. “All the South-east Asian countries take turns (hosting it), but we will never have another SEA Games in our Golden Jubilee year like this. So, this is a historic opportunity and I encourage all Singaporeans to come and support Team Singapore.”

To be held from June 5 to 16, the SEA Games will feature 402 events across 36 sports, with more than 10,000 athletes and officials from 11 South-east Asian nations expected to attend. Hosts Singapore will be sending its largest-ever contingent to the biennial meet, with 749 athletes in all 36 sports.

For events that are sold out, Wong revealed plans to hold “live” community screenings and provide feeds via social media. An app for mobile phones and tablets will also be launched. Entry to half of the 36 sports at the Games will be free-of-charge, but to drive more people to the competition sites, sports carnivals and fringe events will be held at the two major venues in the Sports Hub and Marina Bay. The latter is to host the sailing, canoeing, rowing and dragon-boating events.

“That is what we are planning to do because many people come for these events not just for the games and the sports, but for the lifestyle experience,” said Wong. “So, we will be having carnivals at the Sports Hub and also at Marina Bay.”