Which One Will It Be? The decision on which Sports Hub design S'pore will pick will be announced on Saturday. Our reporter, Tan Yo-Hinn, makes his choice.
Consortium's programming plan and calendar of events for the Sports Hub gets them the nod
An inaugural Asean Super League football tournament in 2012, an annual Singapore International Football Trophy, international cricket events, and 136 non-government financed events in 2012 – this was the Singapore Sports Hub's calendar of activities planned for the new Sports Hub, when ready at the end of 2011.
In the end, their integrated and comprehensive programming strategy tipped the scales in their favour as they edged out Alpine-Mayreder and Singapore Gold to win the rights to build and operate the 25-year Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project, estimated to cost $1.2 billion.
At a press conference to announce the preferred bidder for the Sports Hub project on Saturday, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan said: "We have evaluated the project using four criteria – these are programming and events, design and functionality, financial and legal considerations, and facility management capability."Of the four criteria, programming and events was given the highest weightage as we believed that a programming-led strategy would bring about the project's success and long-term viability, as well as ensure that Kallang remains a vibrant area for sports and leisure activities."
The Singapore Sports Hub have dubbed the location at Kallang Basin – which includes the current area where the National Stadium -- as the Premier Park and it is the biggest PPP project in the world."The consortium displayed significant strengths in programming, team culture and partnership, functionality and layout," added Dr Balakrishnan"It also offered the best value for money solution for Singapore. Singapore Sports Hub provided a holistic strategy to promote sports participation, leisure, entertainment and lifestyle activities via a focus on community and grassroots sports."
The consortium's spokesperson, Christian Brezet, was ecstatic with the win, and he said: "This is a very big relief for all of us. It's an interesting project, bringing sports to the community and grassroots level and we're committed to bringing these events to Singapore."
The Premier Park will include a 55,000 to 70,000-seater national stadium with a lightweight retractable roof – one of the thinnest in the world – a 6,000-capacity indoor aquatic centre, 3,000-seater multi-purpose indoor arena, watersports centre, 41,000 square metres of retail and commercial space, a 7,000 square metre air-conditioned karting track, water leisure park, a whitewater pontoon and Olympic standard whitewater course, and the existing Singapore Indoor Stadium.There is an option to build a 528-room Premier Park Hotel.
Besides ensuring a steady stream of international and regional events, the consortium has guaranteed 90 event days at the national stadium and 46 event days at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.Community programmes such as the multi-sport Singapore National Games for nine days a year, and a youth development scheme will aim to build and enhance the sporting culture in Singapore.
A proposed Premier Park Foundation will also channel 75 per cent of the Sports Hub's commercial revenue into funding events, activities and facilities.
When documents for tender were presented in July 2006, the project was estimated to cost between $650 to $800 million.
With the increase in capital costs, construction costs and the addition of a watersports centre, the figure is now at $1.2 billion.
The cost will be borne by the consortium, with the government to pay a net present value for 25-years amounting to $1.87 billion.
The Singapore Sports Council said yesterday that minor details - such as the location of the whitewater rafting course – will be ironed out before the contract is inked at the end of March.The 34-year old National Stadium is expected to be demolished in April and the Singapore Sports Hub will take over operations of the Singapore Indoor Stadium from April.
Singapore Sports Hub's Premier Park (in box)
# 55,000-70,000 seater National Stadium
# Multi-purpose indoor arena, 3,000 seater
# Aquatic Centre, 6,000-seater
# 7,000sq/m air-conditioned Karting track with spectator area
# Action Zone and Skate park with four basketball courts and more than 2,500sq/m of ramps, tubes and ledges
# Water Leisure Park
# Watersports centre with a whitewater pontoon,
# an Olympic standard whitewater course with spectator stand,
# 500m course for dragon boat, kayak and rowboat racing
# Plaza/Retail
# 528-room Premier Park Hotel (optional)
When your office desk starts to feel like a prison-cell and "getting away from it all" implies a trip to Starbucks or California Fitness, then you know you're in need of adventure. And "adventure" doesn't have to mean extreme sports. While running-with-the-bulls in Pamplona, rallying to Dakar, or dating Naomi Campbell are all very well, sometimes the discerning traveller needs an adventure that's closer to reality than Reality TV. Enter three sports in three travel-spots that are sure to get your adrenalin pumping and blow off those workaday blues � and still leave you intact next week to tell your friends about it over a beer at Harry's.
Downhill Skiing in Whistler, Canada
Forget the Alps. And Lake Tahoe is so last decade. The place to ski these days is Whistler-Blackcomb in British Columbia, site of the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics. Just an hour and a half north of Vancouver, Whistler village is home to two resorts, Whistler and Blackcomb, which make the ultimate winter sports combo. Whether you're a snowboarder or prefer downhill skis under your feet, with more than 3,000 hectares of runs and the biggest vertical rise in North America, you can ski or board until your legs scream in protest and still not feel you've hit the same mogul twice.
Standing above the snowy slopes in the morning, you'll fast forget Singapore's heat. And when gravity takes you down in a spray of white between those contours, you'll know the true adrenalin rush that comes with speed. For the veteran in need of a challenge, check out the double-black diamond Extreme Limits area. For beginners there are ski-schools and gentle slopes to ease you in. And after a day of hard skiing, what could be better than a little after-ski socialising in Whistler's many pubs and bars.
A two-day lift ticket starts at C$120 ($180) and Whistler's world-class hotels come with world-class hotel rates. Travel packages are the best way to go. The ski season at Whistler runs from mid-October to late March. And for those familiar with soggy west coast winters, remember that when it's raining in Vancouver, it's snowing at Whistler.
Ski information and snow reports:
www.whistlerblackcomb.com
Whistler hotel reservations:
www.whistler.com/hotels
Scuba diving in Malaysia
If skiing isn't your bag and a long plane flight clashes with your golf schedule, why not turn from sky to sea? Singapore basks on the doorstep of some of the best scuba-diving in the world � Australia, Indonesia and, nearest to home, Malaysia. It's cheap, it's close by and it's an alien world worth exploring. Fantastic diving can be found just a few hours up the coast from Singapore.
Tioman is fine for beginners, but hard-core scuba enthusiasts head north to Pulau Redang and the Perhentian islands. Not only do these gorgeous islands retain a rustic, laid-back feel, they lay claim to some of the most diverse and colourful reefs this side of the Red Sea. Here, you can float above giant Maori wrasses and black-tipped reef sharks, swim face to face with man-sized green sea turtles, or marvel at massive undersea coral mounts. It's the ideal weekend adventurer's getaway. And while these bath-warm waters are relatively free of dangerous predators, it is always wise to remember you're a stranger in a strange land: Keep a vigilant eye and always dive with someone else.
For those who have never tried diving but like the thought of it, resorts on Pulau Tioman or Pulau Rawa offer five-day intensive dive-and-holiday packages, which will leave you PADI-certified at the end of it. Accommodation tends to be basic, but the seafood is as fresh as it gets. Plus, the beach sunsets are unbeatable and the seas clear-as-glass turquoise.
Redang island resort:
www.redangisland.com
Scuba courses on Tioman:
www.tiomanscuba.com
Sea Kayaking in New Zealand
If you're happier above the sea than underneath it, a third option for adventure is sea kayaking. Not to be confused with its whitewater cousin, sea kayaks are longer, more stable, and offer foot-controlled steering. Some even come with sails. And if this doesn't sound plush enough, you can pack enough gear and food in the bulkheads to last a few weeks � that's hundreds of coastal kilometres, and the ultimate getaway!
New Zealand is one of the foremost paddling destinations. Its clear water, unspoiled landscapes, and a climate varying from near-tropical to temperate, offers the sea kayaker unparalleled variety. Start at Bay of Islands in the north, where sheep prance amid orange groves on the Scottish-type hills, and bottlenose dolphins swim playfully within reach. You can kayak full across the Bay in an hour or two, and be back to your bed & breakfast in time for tea. If this sounds too domestic, then head down to the cool aquamarine of Abel Tasman park in the South Island, the most popular kayaking destination in the country. And for the really adventurous, there are the chilly waters of Milford Sound on the west coast, whose magnificent fiords wouldn't look out of place in Norway.
Kayak rentals start at NZ80 ($90) and while the wildlife hazards are minimal, pay attention to tidal charts, bring a GPS along and water-proof your cellphone. As with scuba diving, it's always best to travel in tandem. Out on the sea, amid the waves and seabirds, you can't imagine a better escape from urban life.
Bay of Islands:
www.coastalkayakers.co.nz/bay-of-islands.html
Abel Tasman Park:
www.abeltasman.co.nz
Fiordland:
www.fiordlandadventure.co.nz
No comments:
Post a Comment