SINGAPORE: The Singapore River Raft Race this year has a new theme for Singapore Polytechnic students. They will dress up as pirates mimicking the movie 'Pirates of the Caribbean'.

The student "pirates" have been practising on bamboo rafts for the event on Sunday, 20th May.

In all, eight teams from the Polytechnic's different schools will compete.

The rafts are made from items like bamboo, plastic bottles, and tyres - and teams will race 100 metres of the Singapore River for prizes.

There will also be races involving secondary school students, media professionals and teams from overseas.

"The conditions will be a little difficult to gauge. But from our experience from the past years, we believe the conditions will be pretty good, the river will be pretty calm. As for the competition from the other schools, I believe they will definitely put up a very great fight," says student Goh Zhi Biao, Singapore Maritime Academy, Singapore Polytechnic. - CNA/yy