SINGAPORE'S first international-standard extreme sports facility was unveiled on Thursday, marking the latest chapter in the ongoing multimillion-dollar upgrading of East Coast Park.

Sprawled over 1.4 hectares, Xtreme SkatePark comprises three courses for skateboarders, inline skaters and BMX bikers to try out.

It was designed and built by Australian firm Convic Design, which also created the world's largest skate park in Shanghai.

Xtreme SkatePark has a street course with common street obstacles such as stairs, handrails, and ledges; a combo bowl which has different depths; and a 3.6m deep vertical bowl, meant for advanced level skaters and bikers.

Admission is free and it is open till 10pm daily.

Completed at $7.6 million, the skate park costs considerably more than the original $6 million pricetag. It was also due to open last year.

NParks, which developed the park with the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, said construction costs had risen . It added that changes made after focus group feedback also upped costs, and the delay in opening was due to 'fine-tuning'.

Extreme sports enthusiasts who have conquered the challenges of the skate parks at Somerset and Bedok cheer the addition of a more advanced facility.

With the park, BMX biker Mr John Chan no longer needs to go to Kuala Lumpur once every six months to hone his skills at the skate parks there.

The 28-year-old said when he first started biking a decade ago, the sport's enthusiasts were seen as troublemakers and often chased off by the police.

'This is a big change compared to 10 years ago. Finally the government has taken notice of us, and we're very glad,' said Mr Chan.

The park will host its first competition on Aug 29 and 30, with regional athletes competing in the first Singapore Xtreme Championship.