by Tan Yo-Hinn
SINGAPORE - The Republic will make a bid to host the SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games in 2015, the year in which Singapore will mark 50 years of independence.
The Government has given the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) the green light to bid for the biennial multi-sport event at the SEA Games Federation Council meeting later this month, said Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean yesterday.
Mr Teo, who is also SNOC's president, was speaking at the flag presentation for Team Singapore, which is heading to Indonesia to take part in the 2011 SEA Games. The SEA Games will be jointly hosted by the Indonesian cities of Jakarta and Palembang from Nov 11 to Nov 22, while the Para Games will be held in Solo from Dec 12 to Dec 22.
The SNOC will be submitting Singapore's bid to host the 2015 sporting event at the SEA Games Federation Council meeting, which will be held on the sidelines of the Games in Indonesia.
If successful, it will be the first time Singapore will host the region's biggest multi-sport showpiece since 1993 when its athletes won 50 gold medals.
The Republic also hosted the event in 1973 and 1983.
Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Major-General (NS) Chan Chun Sing, told reporters later: "For the sporting fraternity, it's a chance for our athletes to shine on home ground ... There will also be economic benefits. When we organise the 2015 SEA Games, I foresee a lot of contracts and work will be done by Singaporean companies.
" ... We also want to make sure we can draw in all Singaporeans ... so that the Games truly belong to all Singaporeans and not just the sports fraternity."
No other bid has been submitted to the SEA Games Federation so far, although Cambodia will be given preference if it decides to do so as member nations which have never hosted the event will be given priority.
While details like budgeting, volunteers and proposed competition programme and dates have not been finalised, the S$1.33 billion Sports Hub in Kallang, which will be ready by April 2014, will serve as the Games' main venue if the bid is successful.
"I wish Singapore had hosted the last few Games because I would have been in a far better shape," said flag-bearer and multiple discus champion James Wong, 42, for whom this year's SEA Games will be his swansong.
Swimmer Theresa Goh, 23, who will compete at the ASEAN Para Games, added: "In all my years competing, I've never swum in a major meet at home. So it is something I'm really looking forward to."
Gymnast Lim Heem Wei, 22, believes Singapore's experience in hosting major sports meets, such as the Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix and last year's Youth Olympics, will come in handy.
The 2010 Commonwealth Games silver medallist added: "It will unite everyone, not just athletes but even those not directly involved. For the younger athletes, it is something for them to look forward to."
