SINGAPORE: In 2005, names like Muhammad Ali, Sebastian Coe and David Beckham visited Singapore for the 117th International Olympic Committee Session.
Three years later, 100,000 fans heard the roar of 300km/h engines
for the first time, as the SingTel Singapore Grand Prix - the world's
first Formula 1 night race - hurtled along the spectacular Marina Bay
street circuit.
Last year, Singapore organised the first Asian Youth Games, and in 148
days' time, Singapore will welcome an estimated 3,600 athletes aged 14
to 18 from 205 National Olympic Committees for the inaugural Youth
Olympic Games.
The Republic has also hosted the World Cup short course swimming series,
and the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon has witnessed record
entries.
As a result, Singapore is in the running for the prestigious Sport
Business Ultimate Sports City Award 2010.
The Republic was one of 25 cities shortlisted on Thursday for the
biennial award - first held in 2006 - by London-based Sport Business
Group, the world's leading supplier of information, media and
business-to-business marketing services to the global sports industry.
The winning city will be announced at the Sport Accord Convention in
Dubai next month.
"All cities are awarded a value according to the events they host
annually, have hosted or will host between 2006 and 2014, as well as
federations in their locale," Rachael Church-Sanders, author of the
Ultimate Sports City report, told MediaCorp in an interview on Thursday.
"Singapore's score was boosted by events such as the 2010 Youth
Olympics, World Netball Championships and the Formula 1 Grand Prix ...
"(There is) no monetary award, but as Melbourne (our winner in 2006 and
2008) will tell you, the kudos from winning the award has given them
exposure for promotional purposes and attracting future events."
Singapore is believed to be among the frontrunners to topple reigning
Ultimate Sports City Melbourne - it has won both editions in 2006 and
2008 - which it pipped in the bid to host next year's World Netball
Championship.
The shortlist was comprised by analysing the locations of over 2,000
sports events and federations globally between 2006 and 2014 and
awarding points according to the importance of the event or federation.
It is the first time Singapore has made the shortlist, and the Republic
is one of five Asian cities - and the only South-east Asian city - in
the mix.
Some of the other shortlisted cities include Moscow, Beijing, 2010
Winter Olympics host Vancouver, Johannesburg, venue of the 2010 World
Cup Final, and London, host of the 2012 Olympic Games.
For the award itself, the 25 cities will be judged on criteria including
stadia and venues, transport and infrastructure, government and public
support, legacy, standard of living, marketing and promotional ability
and testimonials of event personnel.
The Singapore Sports Council (SSC) hailed the development as an
"achievement". "We are truly honoured to be one of the 25 Ultimate
Sports Cities to be shortlisted ..." said SSC chief (sports marketing
group) Kelven Tan.
"To stand alongside some of the world's best sports cities and be one of
only five Asian cities ... is an achievement in itself. Whatever
happens after this is a bonus."
- TODAY
but... we can't even get our acts together to demolish and rebuild the national stadium..