If you are a sports enthusiast, you must have cheered the opening of the $1.33 billion Singapore Sports Hub in Kallang in June.
The centrepiece is a 55,000-seat stadium that is ringed by the OCBC Aquatic Centre, the OCBC Arena and Stadium MRT station.
While the stadium is for professional athletes, it is good to know that there are plenty of other sports and recreational facilities that the public can use.
The Sports Hub is not just intended to be a world-class sporting venue, but also where one can go for fun and to enjoy leisure activities.
Mr Oon Jin Teik, chief operating officer of SportsHub said: "Singapore is not a single-sport country. To cater to all segments of Singaporeans, we need a portfolio of sporting venues, supported by a diverse range of events and activities, from recreational to elite competition, community to commercial."
"Additionally, to cater to the lifestyle of Singaporeans, we need to offer sports, entertainment and leisure events and activities."
He said the Singapore Sports Hub will be rolling out more programmes at its various venues, including the Water Sports Centre, the OCBC Arena and the OCBC Aquatic Centre, starting from late this year to early next year.
There will be a kayaking and canoeing orientation programme for children aged nine years and above. The OCBC Arena will have group fitness classes, children's programmes, and parent and child classes, he said.
"The Singapore Sports Hub is a complex project that will grow in phases," said Mr Oon.
"As we better understand the changing needs of Singaporeans, we will continue to introduce new offerings and enhance the overall experience."
The Singapore Sports Hub offered free use of its facilities from June 30 to July 31, and then extended it to Aug 17.
Here is our guide on what you can do at the hub.
OCBC AQUATIC CENTRE
Here, you will find a 50m competition pool with 10 lanes and a 50m training pool with eight lanes. There is also a 25m-wide diving pool.
The training pool is open from 7am to 10pm daily. The competition pool will be open only from 9am to 2pm on weekdays, and only those aged 16 and above can use it.
You can book a swimming lane - though as of last week, the online reservation system was still not ready for use - or just walk in.
Booking a lane will cost you but it means that you get the whole lane to yourself and up to three friends, said a customer care employee at the hub. Otherwise, you can skip this step and share the lane with other members of the public.
Two of the eight lanes at the training pool are set aside for those who have made a reservation. But if they are not booked, the public can use them.
Do check before you visit as the centre may be closed for swim events. Private coaching lessons are not allowed at the centre but it will be introducing swimming lessons and water exercise programmes in the future.
How much: Local residents (Singaporeans and PRs) pay $18 per hour for a lane during non-peak hours (7am to 6pm) on weekdays, or $20 per hour for peak hours (6pm to 10pm on weekdays, whole day on weekends and public holidays). Foreigners pay $23.50 or $26. For walk-ins, there is an entry fee of $2 to $2.20 for adults and $1 to $1.10 for students, children under 18, those aged 55 and above and the disabled. Foreigners pay slightly more.
MORE SPORTS FACILITIES
