Organisers plan stunning closing ceremony

SINGAPORE — It is going to be a party to remember for the more than 7,000 athletes and officials, and 55,000 spectators when the curtain comes down on the 28th SEA Games at the Sports Hub on June 16. Headlining the entertainment programme is well-known Dutch DJ Ferry Corsten, who will lead a cast that includes local artistes such as Tabitha Nauser, Gayle Nerva and Tay Kewei. Before the evening ends in a massive dance party, a “Parade of Stamps” of 50 Singapore postage stamps from 1949 and four of the Games will also be featured.

Durihng a media briefing yesterday, creative director for the Closing Ceremony Beatrice Chia-Richmond promised that the event will be “visually-stunning”. She said the reference point of her ideas came from attending the closing ceremonies of the respective 2010, 2013 and 2014 Youth Olympic, SEA and Commonwealth Games.

“These were some of the references that I took,” said she. “What was very clear to me was that by the time of the closing ceremony, what everybody wants is a jolly good time. They want to have an opportunity to let their hair down, take a million selfies, make new friends, share their victories, and defeats. So we want a closing ceremony that will give our friends all that.”

Colonel Lawrence Lim, chairman of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies also said the first rehearsal for the opening show was held last Saturday. He added that more than 100 rehearsals of the various components of both events have been also been conducted. “We started this journey to plan for the closing and opening ceremonies two years ago. For a complex and very technically demanding opening show, it is not easy,” he said. “But it is this passion, commitment and determination from our participants that will help us weather through the difficulties.” ADELENE WONG