SINGAPORE: 2007 has been a very busy year in Singapore's sports calendar with big new projects announced, including the country's first Formula One race.

The Singapore F1 Grand Prix will be the world's first night street race and work has already begun on all fronts – from track layout to ticketing and hospitality.

The F1 cars could be hitting the roads earlier than September 2008 as night tests will be carried out in May after similar trials overseas.

Another widely-anticipated event in 2008 is the announcement of the winning bid for the new sports hub, which will replace the National Stadium.

Three consortiums are bidding for the project, which is estimated to cost between S$600 million and S$800 million.

Oon Jin Teik, CEO of the Singapore Sports Council, said: "The tender approving authority will meet sometime in the middle of January to confirm or select the winner for Cabinet's approval, so we are on track in terms of timing."

The Sports Hub will be ready by 2011 but even before this sports icon is completed, Singapore is aiming for a major event in the international sports scene – the world's first Youth Olympic Games in 2010.

The event is for youths aged 14 to 18, and the International Olympic Committee wants culture and education to be part of the Games.

That is why the whole nation has been roped in to show support for the country's bid to host the Games.

Parliamentary Secretary Teo Ser Luck, Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, said: "If we win the bid, we need to transit into organisational mode immediately... So right now, we are tabulating the things that need to be done and coming up with the list of key people that we need to involve in the organising committee."

Singapore is now in second place behind Moscow, among the final list of five cities that have been short-listed.

The winning city will be announced in February 2008.

'Youth' and 'Sports' were also the key themes for Team Singapore at the Southeast Asian Games as more than half of the over 400 athletes were below the age of 21.

Despite their youth, the team came home with their best-ever overseas haul of 43 gold medals.

But more than just numbers, the achievement is seen as an important anchor to cultivate a sporting culture in Singapore.

Low Teo Ping, Chef de Mission, Team Singapore, SEA Games 2007, said: "As the SEA Games were held from a very reachable distance, supporters were able to get there to cheer for Singapore. That, in itself, is another important component of how you want to evolve a sporting culture."


- CNA/so