Singapore Government Press Release

Media Division, Ministry of Information and The Arts

36th Storey, PSA Building, 460 Alexandra Road, Singapore 119963.

Tel: 3757794/5

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Thank you Ser Miang, and good evening ladies and gentlemen.

I am very happy to be here this evening for the unveiling of the new corporate identity of the Singapore Indoor Stadium and SISTIC.

At the ground breaking ceremony of the SIS in 1987, the then Minister for Community Development, Mr Wong Kan Seng, had called the Singapore Indoor Stadium "a significant milestone in the history of sports development in Singapore".

Since then, the SIS has received many accolades from the public, hirers as well as visitors. Juan Samaranch, the President of the International Olympic Committee, on one of his visits to Singapore described the SIS as "probably one of the best in the world".

The SIS means many things to many people. It is an architectural statement on Singapore’s vibrant urban landscape. It is a visually spectacular building, with its unique architecture, and roofline. The Singapore Indoor Stadium, is a national monument which Singaporeans are proud of and familiar with. It is a place where they can relax, have fun, and share in the spirit of the moment. It is also a place to host world-class events. The operatic brilliance of Luciano Pavarotti, the deft illusions of David Copperfield and the grand spectacle of "Aida" have all taken centrestage at the SIS

Apart from being a venue for world-class entertainment spectaculars, the SIS also serves as a gathering place for community events. The SIS has hosted numerous cultural and religious events, Chingay 25, a large scale event commemorating its 25^th anniversary, May Day rallies, and Senior Citizens’ shows.

Hosting of big sports events in Singapore have also increased, such as the Tiger 5s Futsal or Indoor Soccer Event, Heineken Tennis Open and Konica Cup for Badminton, to name a few. There is great potential in the sports area. These events were enjoyed not only by Singaporeans but also by many visitors from the region. Such sporting events play a major role in the development of sports tourism and the sports industry as a whole.

The SIS and SISTIC have already made their mark and established themselves successfully for a good number of years.

The unveiling of the new corporate identity for SIS and SISTIC presents new opportunities. As society evolves in its tastes and lifestyles so too must SIS and SISTIC. Singaporeans demand for the best in sporting action and entertainment, presented in the comfort and convenience of a modern stadium featuring the latest in audio-visual systems. Even for community events, although non-commercial, there is the public’s expectation that they must be staged with class.

The unveiling of the corporate identity unfolds new challenges. I am confident that with the support of the sports and entertainment industry as well as the public at large, SIS will continue to remain as the premier venue of choice for sports, entertainment, cultural and community events in Singapore.

I would like to congratulate the SIS team on their willingness to regenerate, and to redefine their objectives and mission. Such measures are necessary to keep up with the times and particularly important in times of economic difficulty such as we are facing today in order to maintain our competitive edge.

Thank you.