Community events to launch Singapore Sports Hub

The new Singapore Sports Hub is set to become a magnet for world-class international events, its debut next April will feature a community event.

Speaking while announcing a landmark naming rights deal with the OCBC Group, Singapore Sports Hub Chief Executive Philippe Delavaud told AsiaOne "the first event in April will be a community type of event.

"It will have all types of sports at all the venues ... we want to open (the Hub) with community events and sports experience type of events."

Singapore acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Lawrence Wong added that the $1.33 billion facility's official opening may take place when Singapore hosts the biennial South-east Asia (SEA) Games in June 2015.

Acting Minister Wong explained "you can't have an official opening on day one.

"We are going to phase in all the systems and make sure the operations work well over time because it's such a big venue.

"After a year then you'd have your official opening, which for us means SEA Games 2015. That's something we're deliberating over."

The sponsorship gives OCBC naming rights to the multi-purpose indoor arena, aquatic centre, the National Stadium Club Lounge at the north and south wings of the National Stadium, and the VIP lounge in the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Already it has been announced that the OCBC Aquatics Centre will host the South-east Asia Swimming Championships in June, while the Asian Netball Championship - the continent's qualifier for the 2015 World Championships - will take place in the 35-hectare facility.

The season-ending Women's Tennis Association Championship will start its five-year stay in October at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, while world-class competitions like rugby's World Cup Sevens and football's Under-17 or Under-19 World Cup may find their way to Kallang in the future.

The Singapore Sports Hub is scheduled to be completed by April next year. 

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