Singapore Sports Council CEO Lim Teck Yin said that when Singapore hosts the Southeast Asia Games next June, the "iconic Padang or the Marina Bay Floating Platform could host some of the competition's football matches," according to Sazali Abdul Aziz of THE NEW PAPER. Previously, it was known that the "Sports Hub and Bishan Stadium would host football matches," but the SEA Games Organizing Committee (SINGSOC) is "looking for a third venue." Lim explained that "both the Padang and Floating Platform have restrictions." The Padang will also be the venue of the National Day Parade (NDP) next August, while the pitch at the Floating Platform is "artificial and would need to be re-laid with grass before it is suitable to host SEA Games football matches" (THE NEW PAPER, 4/17). THE NEW PAPER reported the SINGSOC will "embark on a three-pronged concept" under the theme of "Celebrating the Extraordinary" for the SEA Games in a "bid to foster ownership of the Games and evoke national pride among Singaporeans" (THE NEW PAPER, 4/17).
FREE TICKETS: In Singapore, Chan U-gene reported tickets for next year's SEA Games will be "made available free of charge, in a push to generate greater community interest in the region's biggest sports event." Half the tickets to the "estimated 36 sports on offer will be given to members of the public." Organizers, however, have "yet to confirm how many of the tickets in each sport will be made free." Details on how to obtain these tickets, as well as to "buy the remaining tickets, will be announced in June." Sales are "slated to take place in November" (STRAITS TIMES, 4/17).
