Upgraded Tampines Bike Park ready for YOG
SINGAPORE: Organisers of the inaugural Youth Olympic Games
(YOG) have unveiled the upgraded Tampines Bike Park (TBP) as one of
the competition venues.
The upgraded TBP was certified by Union Cycliste
Internationale (UCI), the International Federation for Cycling, as
ready to host the Bicycle Moto-Cross (BMX) and Mountain Bike
competition for the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games.
Spanning over 23 hectares, the upgraded TBP is the first
of its kind in Olympic Games. It is designed such that spectators
to the Singapore 2010 races will be able to have a clear view of
the BMX competition as well as watch the start and end of Time
Trial and Mountain Bike events from the spectators
stand.
The bike park is made up of two cycling tracks - mountain
bike trail and BMX track.
The mountain bike trail that will be competed on during
Singapore 2010 spans three kilometres with four rock garden
downhill trails. The track is a test of true skills of the riders
through their bike handling techniques and endurance.
Sixty percent of the trail consists of a single track,
which provides greater challenge in overtaking the
opponents.
The BMX track spans 355 metres with the purpose of testing
swiftness and speed in completing the course. This dirt track
consists of no less than 26 jumps and three banked
corners.
The BMX track is designed and built by Tom Ritzenthaler
from UCI and his team, who also constructed the BMX track for the
Beijing 2008 Olympic Games when this discipline made its debut. The
same team will be building a cycling track for London
2012.
Some 800 residents, grassroots leaders and MPs from
Tampines GRC, as well as Olympic mascots Lyo and Merly, attended
the launch of the upgraded TBP on Sunday.
MP for Tampines GRC, Irene Ng, said: "Tampines residents
can enjoy these world-class facilities at the Tampines Bike Park
after the YOG is over, and it will be one of the lasting legacies
of the Games to Tampines."
The Youth Olympic Games will take place from 14-26
August.
- CNA/ir