SINGAPORE: Singapore's plans to compete in the 2014
Winter Olympics got a boost with the opening of the country's first
Olympic-size skating rink on Monday.
Located at JCube in Jurong East, the ice rink
measures 60 by 30 metres.
The facility can host recreational skating, figure
skating, speed skating and ice hockey.
Lucas Ng, Singapore's only representative at the 2011 Asian Winter
Games, said: "I will definitely work harder and train harder and to
go for more competitions and get more experience before I go for
Olympic Games."
An Olympic-size rink also ensures the Singapore Ice Skating
Association's(SISA) continued membership with the International
Skating Union.
SISA wants to use the rink to grow the sport in Singapore.
Sonja Chong, president of SISA, said: "We have been asked to host
the Asian Short-Track Trophy in Singapore, so once the padding is
in place we will host that competition hopefully mid-year."
Ice Hockey, with its thriving league, is another sport that has big
plans.
Darcy McColl, secretary of the Singapore Ice Hockey Association,
said: "The target would be Asian Champions next year, that is a
reasonable target. The Singaporean team has already done well in
Asian tournaments, it's just a matter of how we can get organised
and really play the game properly."
One unique feature of the rink is that it offers Singapore's first
rink side dining experience.
The rink also comes with a 460-seat gallery and is managed by
CapitaLand Retail Management.
- CNA/ck
