SINGAPORE: There are no plans to build a temporary stadium in
place of the National Stadium at Kallang when it is demolished for
the building of the new sports hub.
The Acting Minister for the Community Development, Youth and Sports
says Singapore also does not need an intermediate size stadium for
the moment.
Replying to questions in Parliament, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan
stressed the need for optimal use of existing regional stadiums in
Singapore for sporting and other activities.
He said: "The Ministry will work to ensure that the facilities are
affordable. But having said that, you also have to bear in mind
that at the end of the day someone still has to pay for it. It is a
question of how much the user will pay versus how much you want the
taxpayers to pay. Our prime focus should be to get the overall cost
down and we can do that best by running things cost-
efficiently."
As for the sports hub, tenders will be called next year and
construction start in 2007.
It should be completed by 2010. - CNA
