Former National Stadium, Singapore

National Stadium

Location	Singapore
Owner	Singapore Sports Council
Operator	Singapore Sports Council
Capacity	55,000
Surface	Grass
Construction
Broke ground	1966
Opened	1973 / 2010 (scheduled)
Closed	2007
Demolished	2007
Tenants
Singapore Sports Council

The Singapore National Stadium (Chinese: 国家体育场; Malay : Stadium Nasional Singapura) is located in Kallang. Opened in July 1973, the place has been used for many sporting, cultural, entertainment and national events, such as the Southeast Asian Games (when hosted in Singapore), the Singapore Armed Forces Day, the Singapore Youth Festival Opening Ceremony Parade, and the finals of the 2004 Tiger Cup. The National Stadium has been the venue for the National Day Parade 18 times (in 1976, 1980, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996–1999, 2001–2004, 2006).

The National Stadium will officially be closed on 30 June 2007, and will be demolished to make way for a Sports Hub which is expected to open in 2011.

Facilities

The National Stadium has an 8-lane running track and a soccer field. Apart from there are other miscellaneous facilities such as ping pong tables, weights room, and auditorium, housed in the large spaces under the spectator stands. In order to accommodate crowds, there are more than parking lots for more than 4000 cars and 100 motorcycles.

While the facilities are often used for high-profile sporting events, they can also be used by members of the public and other local organizations for a fee. For example, when not otherwise used, the running track can be used by joggers for SGD 0.50 per entry.

The headquarters of the Singapore Sports Council are also located within the National Stadium.

The preview show of the National Day Parade held at the National Stadium in 2003.

History

Conceptualisation

Soon after the end of the Second World War, as Singapore moved towards self-government and independence, the clamour began for a national stadium.

Preliminary studies of possible sites began in the 1950s. Kallang Park was selected because of existing sport facilities in the immediate vicinity. In August 1965, preliminary work on the design of the Stadium began. By the end of 1965, considerable progress having been made to shelter people, educate the young and to find jobs for the swelling population, Minister Othman Wok announced the Government's intention to proceed with the construction of the National Stadium of Olympic standards at Kallang, as the first phase of the National Sports Complex. The Minister told Parliament that the National Stadium would give a tremendous boost to the promotion of sports in Singapore and would help improve the Republic's image in international sports.

Funding

A state-owned lottery company, Singapore Pools, was set up in 1968 to raise funds for the stadium. Proceeds from the Singapore Sweep and TOTO were used to pay a substantial part of the construction bill. Between 1968–1976, the company contributed S$14.5 million towards the project. Singapore Pools also helped the Stadium repay a government loan of $7.8 million meant as start-up money for a stadium management corporation . Today, Singapore Pools is still a major sponsor for the National Stadium, as well as the National Day Parade.

Construction

On December 7, 1966, the year Singapore celebrated her first National Day, Minister Othman drove the first pile into the ground. For the next three and a half years, piling was done to lay the foundations. Work had to be delayed due to bad weather for about a month. By the end of 1970, the stadium was three-quarters completed and was starting to take its definitive shape. Thirty-six steps, each 76 metres wide, formed an impressive entrance and a cauldron was built within the stadium to carry a flame that would burn on special events and on the opening of the National Stadium of Singapore. By the end of June 1973, 300,000 bags of cement, 3,000,000 bricks and 4,500 tons of steel and timber later, the stadium was completed. On July 19 that year, the virgin stadium was opened to the public for the first time.

Redevelopment

Plans have been made to demolish the stadium and build the multi-purpose, 35.6 hectare Singapore Sports Hub in its place. Demolition works are expected to begin in the second half of 2007, and the new Sports Hub planned for completion in 2011. Three finalist consortiums have submitted their plans, which are currently being evaluated.

Closure

The 2007 ASEAN Football Championship is the last major event to be held at the National Stadium before its redevelopment. It will be held on 30 June 2007 in the event "Field of Dreams – A Tribute to the National Stadium", where a football match will be held featuring ex-internationals. The match will be followed by the highlight of the evening, an international friendly between ASEAN champions, Singapore against the Asian Cup bound Australian team.

A montage of National Stadium, towards the eastern entrance (top) and the western entrance (bottom).

See also

• Singapore Indoor Stadium
• List of stadiums in Singapore

External links

• National Stadium tribute website

References

1°18′15.55″N 103°52′30.52″E