The Singapore Sports Hub was abuzz with fiesta activities as more than 18,000 clad in red and white, came together today to celebrate the nation’s 53rd birthday. The lively atmosphere was filled with familiar National Day songs as citizens and foreigners alike sang along and danced to the favourite tunes, and participated in a slate of family-friendly activities at the Sports Hub National Day Fiesta.
The massive turnout for the ‘Workout Lah!’, a cardio-fusion dance programme choreographed with a Singaporean twist, drummed the place with upbeat adrenaline moves. Kids were wriggling through the mini obstacle course with all their might at the ‘Junior Super Warrior Challenge’. Families and friends picnic together and watched the live telecast of the National Day Parade on the giant LED screen at the OCBC Square. The fiesta rose to a crescendo when the National Anthem was sung and the pledge was recited together.
Indu Dhevakar, 38, who frequents the Singapore Sports Hub, said, “I really enjoyed the ‘Workout Lah!’ as it was different from the usual workout. We danced to National Day songs, and it was very nice to see all the races coming together to celebrate National Day as one. My two sons also took part in almost all the activities here such as the bouncy castles, e-sports gaming, 3D flag and bookmark making, as well as the Junior Super Warrior Challenge, and they really enjoyed themselves!”
A web consultant in his early 30s, Ariff Munshi, whose child participated in the Junior Super Warrior Challenge, said, “This event is different from other National Day events in that it has varied activities for families and kids. While the event is more sports-oriented, there are also crafts activities for kids. This makes it very enjoyable for children, not only for younger kids but also for the older ones.”
“The Singapore Sports Hub is a place where Singapore comes to play. It’s heartening to see everyone, from the young to the seniors, having a great time with their families and friends, actively participating in the many lifestyle, sporting and local-themed activities at the Sports Hub National Day Fiesta. We will continue to bring many more exciting activities for all to experience and rediscover the Singapore Sports Hub,” said Ms. Christine Lau, Director of Sports and Community Programming, Singapore Sports Hub.
The craft workshops were a great hit with the kids today as they brought back with them fond memories of the one-of-a-kind masterpieces such as the tiles, batiks, bookmarks and pyssia beads coasters which they have personally created.
38-year-old Ms. Sabrina Chong, a mother of three kids aged 1.5, 4 and 7 years old, said, “I brought my family of eight here today to immerse in the atmosphere, and to keep my kids occupied during National Day through the different activities such as the tile-painting workshop and Junior Super Warrior Challenge. It is the first time I’ve heard of an obstacle course for the younger kids; hence I signed them up to enhance their motor skills. My youngest kid was a bit scared initially but she still tried out the obstacles. I think this event it is a great chance for me to bond with my kids.”
Throughout the day, families enjoyed the bonding activities such as block-building challenges, bubble performances, bouncy castles, as well as the flag-making activities, badge-making workshops, and storytelling sessions at the Singapore Sports Museum and Sports Hub Library. Sports enthusiasts were also kept entertained all day at ELXR Arena’s first mobile container gym, parkour try-outs, e-sports gaming, and RED-X Games.
53 FREE guided tours for the public, including National Stadium back-of-house experience
The National Day celebration at the Singapore Sports Hub will continue till 17 August and members of the public can still sign up for the free Sports Hub guided tours to learn more about the 35-hectare site. There are two types of tours available: a 90-minute tour around the Sports Hub, and a 60-minute back-of-house tour of the National Stadium. The latter is subject to stadium availability and allows the public to explore areas such as the executive suites, premium lounges, media areas, and the players village.
The Sports Hub National Day Fiesta is held in conjunction with GetActive! Singapore. For more information, visit www.sportshub.com.sg/NDFiesta.
