When Maria Sharapova, arguably the world's most marketable tennis player, makes her Singapore debut next Sunday, it would signal the start of more than just a tennis match.

Her exhibition showdown with Anna Chakvetadze at the Singapore Indoor Stadium marks the beginning of what promises to be a exciting year for Singapore sports.

Just two months after world No 5 Sharapova takes on her world No 6 compatriot, the world's top female golfers will tee off at the Tanah Merah Country Club.

The inaugural HSBC Women's Champions event will be the biggest women's golf event to be held in Asia, with Natalie Gulbis and Pak Se Ri just two of the stars set to light up the Garden Course.

In September, the world's eyes will again be on the Republic, as its streets host Formula One's first night race.

Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso will resume their rivalry as they zip down the Padang, roar across the 97-year-old Anderson Bridge and turn heads as they zoom past the Esplanade.

In December, the Volvo Ocean Race will make a pit-stop in Singapore, with Sentosa playing host to one of the world's most prestigious yacht races.

Yet, while there is much for Singaporeans to benefit from next year's action-packed sports calendar, event organisers and promoters should also know that much is expected of them, and Singapore.

The world's media will converge on Singapore. It is a city-state they have heard so much about - of how it can organise mega conferences without much fuss, problems or hiccups.

Think this year's Asean Summit, the International Monetary Fund and World Bank's annual meetings in September last year and the 2005 International Olympic Committee session.

They will also expect to receive the same high-quality service that is a given at top sporting events - a good press centre with broadband/wireless Internet access.

Security is almost never in question when Singapore hosts an event. Yet at times, the minders who protect the star athletes can get a little over-zealous.

The Barclays Singapore Open was a world-class event that put the Republic on the golfing map.

But, this year, security personnel left a sour taste in the mouths of some journalists and fans by going overboard with their cordon around the athletes.

Surely these paid professionals can figure out a way of keeping the stars safe while still allowing a few autographs to be signed and pictures to be taken?

And, outside of the sporting arena, the retail and hospitality industries and ordinary Singaporeans can help to make the overall experience of the guests pleasant.

One of the lasting memories of covering last year's World Cup Finals in Germany was not witnessing Zinedine Zidane head-butting Marco Materazzi.

Rather, it was how warm the German people were and how almost everyone I met, from partying youths in the street to the bratwurst seller, genuinely wanted to make visitors to their country feel at home.

Let us take next Sunday's Sharapova-Chakvetadze match as the first test of how wonderful hosts we can be.

One can be sure that the Russian media will be keeping a close eye on how the Republic organises the event.

After all, Moscow and Singapore are the favourites going into the last leg of the race to host the inaugural 2010 Youth Olympics.

Let them return home with nice things to say: about how efficient a nation we are and how Singaporeans can go out of their way to host a successful sports event.

Dubai, Shanghai and Doha are trying to establish themselves as Asia's sports hub. We should not fall behind in that race.

All I want for Christmas is for Singapore to emerge as a choice destination for major sporting events, for the top sports and stars to continue wanting to come to Singapore.

But, for that to happen, everyone has to do his part.

There is much joy in giving as there is in receiving.

marclim@sph.com.sg