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SINGAPOREGOLD'S VISION: The consortium is proposing a horse-shoe design for the main stadium. It opens up into the sea. -- PHOTO: ALPINE, SINGAPOREGOLD CONSORTIA
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LET US build the Singapore Sports Hub, and the biggest names in sport will come to town.
That is the promise made by Alpine Mayreder, SingaporeGold and Singapore Sports Hub - the three bidders of the integrated sports centre to be built at Kallang.
After taking turns to unveil their design plans yesterday, all three consortia vowed to deliver a sumptuous line-up of stars and events when the Sports Hub is completed in 2011.
'We've talked to the English Football Association, Barcelona and the Harlem Globetrotters,' revealed Mark Adams, senior vice-president of IMG Singapore.
The sports marketing firm is a member of SingaporeGold, which wants to turn the Republic into 'the sporting centre for Asia'.
It also wants to help Singapore's bid to stage the Asian Games in 2018, as well as the Youth Olympic Games in 2010.
The two other bidders have also roped in experienced sports marketers to sweeten their proposals.
Alpine is counting on the expertise of SMG, while Singapore Sports Hub is working with World Sports Group (WSG).
If Alpine wins the bid, Singapore could get to host a pre-season football tournament featuring top European sides, said John Sutherland, managing director of SMG Europe.
He added: 'We've spoken to top teams in the UK, Spain and Germany, and they are keen to come.'
Sutherland also wants to use SMG's influence to help bring the Rugby Sevens World Series back to Singapore.
The Republic had lost its hosting right for the event last year.
An ATP Masters tennis event could even be staged here, he added.
WSG also pledged to organise crowd-pulling tournaments for the Singapore Sports Hub consortium.
These include an invitational football event featuring European and South American teams, as well as an Asean Super League, comprising the top soccer clubs in the region.
Cricket matches could be held here too, along with other major sporting spectacles, said WSG president Seamus O'Brien.
He added: 'The Asian Games, the Commonwealth Games, the IAAF World Championships and the Fina World Championships - we could help bring them here if we win.'
However, all three consortia believe that they should not win solely on their ability to bring in the stars.
Said O'Brien: 'There's no point in relying only on bringing big names here, because these guys will come and go.
'The important thing is embedding local events in the community for years to come.'
Which is why the Singapore Sports Hub is setting aside time every week for ordinary Singaporeans to try their hand at new sports or compete in friendly events.
In IMG's case, it has consulted stakeholders like the People's Association and national sports associations to find out how the new facilities can draw more sports participants.
Said Adams: 'We will have multiple events on a daily basis, and 95 per cent of these will be grassroots events.
'We believe the event programme should cater to all Singaporeans.'
tvoon@sph.com.sg
Have your say YOU have just seen the three proposed designs for the Singapore Sports Hub in Kallang. Which of them do you like best? And why?
Send your views via e-mail to stsports@sph.com.sg, or fax to 6319-8287.
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