PICTURES

NDP 2013: Parade off to a roaring start

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the parade. -- ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the parade. -- ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
Performers and crowds at the National Day Parade 2013 at the floating platform. -- ST PHOTO: MUGILAN RAJASEGERAN
Performers and crowds at the National Day Parade 2013 at the floating platform. -- ST PHOTO: MUGILAN RAJASEGERAN
Performers and crowds at the National Day Parade 2013 at the floating platform. -- ST PHOTO: ASHLEIGH SIM
Performers at the National Day Parade 2013 at the floating platform. -- ST PHOTO: MUGILAN RAJASEGERAN
Fromer Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew waves to the crowd as he arrives. -- ST PHOTO: MUGILAN RAJASEGERAN
Cabinet ministers waving their flags as they arrive at the parade. -- ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
Cabinet ministers arriving at the parade. -- ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
Performers and crowds at the National Day Parade 2013 at the floating platform. -- ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
Cabinet ministers arriving at the parade. -- ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
Performers and crowds at the National Day Parade 2013 at the floating platform. -- ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
A scene from the National Day Parade. -- ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
Performers at the National Day Parade 2013 at the floating platform. -- ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
Performers at the National Day Parade 2013 at the floating platform. -- ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
A scene from the National Day Parade. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LUI
A scene from the National Day Parade. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LUI
A scene from the National Day Parade. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LUI
A scene from the National Day Parade. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LUI
Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong (left) and former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew (right) wave to the crowd as they arrive at the National Day Parade 2013 at the floating platform on Friday, Aug 9, 2013. -- ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM 
Mr Lee Kuan Yew watches the National Day Parade. -- PHOTO: ST PICTURE DESK
Mr Lee Kuan Yew watches the National Day Parade. -- PHOTO: ST PICTURE DESK
Mr Lee Kuan Yew watches the National Day Parade. -- PHOTO: ST PICTURE DESK
A scene from the National Day Parade. -- ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
(From top) Aljunied GRC MP Mr Low Thia Khiang, Mr Lee Kuan Yew and DPM Teo Chee Hean at the parade. -- ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
A panoramic view of the National Day Parade.  -- PHOTO: ST PICTURE DESK
Former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew (seated second row, first from left) joins in the fun with the other ministers and MPs in waving their light sticks. -- ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM

In a rare event, low clouds scuppered the much anticipated sky-diving exploits of Singapore's Red Lions, disappointing many in the crowd at this year's National Day Parade.

The parade had roared to life under grey skies at 4.45pm on Friday.

After welcoming the nation's Members of Parliament - dressed in national colours - all heads turned to the skies, expecting the team of Red Lions to dive in.

But it was not to be, as cloud cover made their jump unsafe and Third Warrant Officer Shirley Ng did not manage to make history as the first woman to jump with the Red Lions at the National Day Parade.

Earlier, the parade had begun with a song and dance extravaganza featuring Chinese, Malay, Tamil lyrics and - to some spectators' mirth - Singlish ones as well.

Singer Shimona Kee's comedic take on the Singaporean lingo had the crowd in stitches as they joined in a mass sing-a-long. Random on-camera pop quizzes also tested unsuspecting spectators on Singapore history.

After the contingents started marching in, the crowd waved their mini national flags to welcome cabinet ministers and Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.

A massive cheer rose from the crowd as Mr Lee Kuan Yew, 89, Singapore's first prime minister, appeared. Many craned their necks trying to snap photographs of him.

He was followed shortly by PM Lee Hsien Loong and President Tony Tan Keng Yam.

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