THE Singapore SEA Games Organising Committee (Singsoc) announced on Monday a string of initiatives aimed at increasing interest for the Games, which the Republic will host in June next year.

These initiatives will be part of a one-year countdown and include a "Sports Day" at the soon-to-be-completed Sports Hub, where participants can try their hand at the different sports on offer.

There will also be a Torch Up! grant scheme whereby the organising committee will fund 50 ideas from the public to "Celebrate the Extraordinary" - the tagline of the 28th Games.

Mr Toh Boon Yi, the chief of the community and corporate outreach arm of Singsoc, also spoke about its plan to create a "Village-in-the-city" which will transform part of the Central Business District area into a SEA Games festival zone.