National Stadium, Singapore

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National Stadium
Location Singapore
Broke ground 1966
Opened 1973 / 2011 (scheduled)
Closed 30 June 2007
Owner Singapore Sports Council
Operator Singapore Sports Council
Surface Grass
Tenants Singapore Sports Council
Southeast Asian Games (1973, 1983, 1993)
Capacity 55,000

The Singapore National Stadium (Chinese: 国家体育场; Malay: Stadium Nasional Singapura) is located in Kallang. Opened in July 1973, the National Stadium was officially closed on 30 June 2007 and will be demolished in late 2008 to make way for the Singapore Sports Hub which is expected to open in 2011.

The stadium was used for many sporting, cultural, entertainment and national events, such as the Southeast Asian Games (when it was 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 to 1999, 2001 to 2004, and 2006).

Ever since the stadium opened in 1973, the stadium has been kept busy mainly due to being host of Singapore's national football team's home matches and other football matches such as the Singapore Cup finals since 1996.

Contents

[edit] Facilities

The National Stadium had an 8-lane running track and football field in addition to 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 were more than parking lots for more than 4,000 cars and 100 motorcycles.

While the facilities were often used for high-profile sporting events, they could also be used by members of the public and other local organizations for a fee. For example, when not otherwise used, the running track could be used by joggers for S$0.50 per entry[1].

The headquarters of the Singapore Sports Council remain located at 15 Stadium Road.

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

[edit] History

[edit] Conceptualisation

The final football game played at Kallang, 30 June 2007
The final football game played at Kallang, 30 June 2007

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[citation needed].

[edit] 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 [2]. Today, Singapore Pools is still a major sponsor for the National Stadium, as well as the National Day Parade.

[edit] Construction

On 7 December 1966 in the year that 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 had been used and the stadium was completed. On 19 July 1973 the new stadium was opened to the public for the first time.

[edit] Redevelopment

Plans have been made to demolish the stadium and build the multi-purpose, 35.6 hectare Singapore Sports Hub in its place.[3] Demolition works are expected to begin in the second half of 2007, and the new Sports Hub planned for completion in 2011.[4] Three finalist consortia have submitted their plans, which are currently being evaluated.[5]

The 2007 ASEAN Football Championship is the last major event held at the National Stadium before its redevelopment.

[edit] Closure

On 30 June 2007, a closing ceremony titled Field of Dreams – A Tribute to the National Stadium was held at the National Stadium.[6] 45,000 people attended the event, together with President S R Nathan, members of the Cabinet and Singapore athletes, past and present.[7] Before the ceremony, a football match featuring ex-internationals from Singapore and Malaysia like Quah Kim Song, T. Pathmanathan, Samat Allapitchay, V. Sundramoorthy, David Lee, Dollah Kassim, Soh Chin Aun, Santokh Singh, Chow Siew Wai and K. Gunalan was played.[8]

The match was followed by the highlight of the evening, an international friendly between ASEAN champions Singapore and the Asian Cup bound Australian team, the Socceroos. The Australians won 3-0 with goals scored by English Premier League players Mark Viduka (50, 86 mins) and Harry Kewell (75 min).[9] This was, however, not the last football match to be played in the stadium as it would still be used for some 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualification matches for AFC Zone.

The closing ceremony held at the National Stadium on 30 June 2007.
The closing ceremony held at the National Stadium on 30 June 2007.


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

[edit] Timeline

The stadium's 42-year history is as follows:[10]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Singapore Sports Council - National Stadium Facilities
  2. ^ Singapore Pools, The Beginning of the National Stadium
  3. ^ Singapore Sports Council, News on the redevelopment of the National Stadium
  4. ^ Singh, Patwant. "Consortium reveals horse shoe-shaped iconic design for Sports Hub", Channel NewsAsia, 29 March 2007. 
  5. ^ Cheney, Satish. "All 3 proposals for new Sports Hub "truly spectacular": Vivian Balakrishnan", Channel NewsAsia, 28 March 2007. 
  6. ^ "A tribute to the Old Lady of Kallang", The Straits Times, 31 May 2007
  7. ^ Marc Lim, "Sun sets on the Grand Old Lady", The Sunday Times, 1 July 2007
  8. ^ Terrence Voon, "Old foes' nostalgic farewell to their field of dreams", The Sunday Times, 1 July 2007
  9. ^ Leonard Lim, "Thanks for a great match, mate", The Sunday Times, 1 July 2007
  10. ^ "Stadium memories: 1973-2007", The Straits Times, 30 June 2007

[edit] External links

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Coordinates: 1°18′15.4″N, 103°52′28.6″E