Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

Mediacorp to broadcast National Day proceedings and other programmes to mark Singapore’s 55th birthday

SINGAPORE — While Singaporeans will not be able to come together at a single venue for the National Day Parade (NDP) this year, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, they can still take part in the proceedings on Sunday (Aug 9) via live telecasts on Mediacorp platforms.

A preview and rehearsal on July 26, 2020 for the National Day Parade to be held on Aug 9.

A preview and rehearsal on July 26, 2020 for the National Day Parade to be held on Aug 9.

Follow TODAY on WhatsApp

SINGAPORE — While Singaporeans will not be able to come together at a single venue for the National Day Parade (NDP) this year, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, they can still take part in the proceedings on Sunday (Aug 9) via live telecasts on Mediacorp platforms. Viewers will be able to catch the raising of the state flag at the Padang and at various locations across the island, and a recital of the national pledge, for instance.

In a press release on Tuesday, Mediacorp, which is the national broadcaster, said that it will telecast the National Day Message at 10am on Sunday on television, radio and other platforms. The message will be delivered in Singapore’s four official languages by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and other Cabinet ministers.

This will be followed by a 75-minute live telecast of the parade held at the Padang. For the first time in NDP history, the presidential gun salute will be executed at the Padang. There will also be an “anthem moment” led by President Halimah Yacob while the state flag is raised at the Padang and at various locations across Singapore.

The parade will feature traditional crowd favourites such as the state flag fly-past, aerial display, Red Lions as well as the mobile column in the heartlands that will have a special focus to “pay tribute to frontline fighters, essential workers and community heroes for their strength and resilience in the fight against Covid-19”.

At 7pm on Sunday, Mediacorp will telecast live the NDP 2020 Evening Show, which will be held at The Star Performing Arts Centre. It will feature a series of short films showcasing 31 stories. These will be interwoven with songs and performances by Singapore artistes, split into six acts.

The first act, titled Our Singapore, aims to evoke feelings of nostalgia through familiar sights and sounds while the second and third acts, titled When Things Change and Challenges We Face respectively, will highlight the challenges faced by the country this year, as well as how Singaporeans have had to adapt.

The fourth and fifth acts will showcase the efforts of ordinary Singaporeans, as well as pay tribute to essential service workers and those at the frontline of the fight against Covid-19.

The final item — titled A Stronger Singapore — will bring all the performers together in a “forward-looking act of optimism where Singapore will emerge stronger as a nation”, the organisers said.

The show will culminate in the “pledge moment” at 8.20pm and Singaporeans are encouraged to recite the national pledge together wherever they are. Following this, they are encouraged to attach red torch stickers from their Singapore Together pack on their mobile phone to light up the night sky in a “dazzling visual display of unity across the island”.

The proceedings will then conclude in a coordinated fireworks display at several locations across Singapore.

Apart from the National Day proceedings, Mediacorp said that it has also lined up a series of related programmes over the long weekend, including a behind-the-scenes look at the making of NDP. This will be telecast on Channel 5 and MeWatch streaming service at 9.30pm on Aug 7.

At 8pm on Aug 10, there will be a one-hour Mediacorp National Day concert featuring performers such as Nathan Hartono, Taufik Batisah, Yung Raja and Inch Chua.

Related topics

NDP 2020 National Day Covid-19 coronavirus MediaCorp

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.