Sunday, July 01, 2007
::TIME TO SAY GOODBYE::
I gotta admit...I have a soft spot for the National Stadium. I can't remember exactly when but they are tearing this stadium real soon.
Recently, when I see the stadium on TV, and even read articles on it in the papers, I can't help but smittened by nostalgia, memories that I hold so dear.
Last night, was the Closing Ceremony for the National Stadium. A last tribute - friendly match between Singapore and Australia, and another where veteran soccer players from Singapore and Malaysia played for one last time.
Nope, I'm no athlete or uniformed personnel who took part in National Day Parades (NDP), but I'm just one of the many Singaporeans who attended previous NDP, a concert and watch a few soccer matches there.
Before the e-balloting ticketing system in 2003, we had to queue up for the free NDP tickets for at least 24 hours prior to the actual release of tix. When the personnel announce that it's giveaway time, the crowd will just clap and scream excitedly. If I remember correctly, I queued up in army camps, in 1998 and 1999 (or was it till 2000?) My then-partner, his sister, cousins, Wenda and her family, would join in the fun. The NDP gift pack would be something that we really looked forward to. And I still keep some NDP postcards and farecards! All of us in our red and white attire will be doing the Kallang Wave, scream and shout, sing a long..(I wont be caught dead doing that now!) When it comes to saying the pledge and singing the National Anthem, and waving to the President, I swear I felt the most patriotic then. Fireworks - definitely the highlight of the NDP for me.
Going home was always a problem. We had to first make our way out of the stadium (50,000 seating capacity!) then make our way to the bus stop and wait for a few crowded buses to just pass us by. So we are always home past midnight!
Developments, I have to understand...but still, it's sad to see one by one, places full of memories disappear. From the National Library at Stamford Road, to just that small McDonald's outlet near my secondary school and now the stadium. It has to make way for a new Sports Hub comprising of a new 55,000-seater stadium, a 6,000-seat indoor aquatic centre and a 3,000-seat multi purpose arena, ready by 2011. For four or five years, NDP will be held on a floating platform with 27,000 seating capacity at the Marina Bay.
Farewell...
Recently, when I see the stadium on TV, and even read articles on it in the papers, I can't help but smittened by nostalgia, memories that I hold so dear.
Last night, was the Closing Ceremony for the National Stadium. A last tribute - friendly match between Singapore and Australia, and another where veteran soccer players from Singapore and Malaysia played for one last time.
Nope, I'm no athlete or uniformed personnel who took part in National Day Parades (NDP), but I'm just one of the many Singaporeans who attended previous NDP, a concert and watch a few soccer matches there.
Before the e-balloting ticketing system in 2003, we had to queue up for the free NDP tickets for at least 24 hours prior to the actual release of tix. When the personnel announce that it's giveaway time, the crowd will just clap and scream excitedly. If I remember correctly, I queued up in army camps, in 1998 and 1999 (or was it till 2000?) My then-partner, his sister, cousins, Wenda and her family, would join in the fun. The NDP gift pack would be something that we really looked forward to. And I still keep some NDP postcards and farecards! All of us in our red and white attire will be doing the Kallang Wave, scream and shout, sing a long..(I wont be caught dead doing that now!) When it comes to saying the pledge and singing the National Anthem, and waving to the President, I swear I felt the most patriotic then. Fireworks - definitely the highlight of the NDP for me.
Going home was always a problem. We had to first make our way out of the stadium (50,000 seating capacity!) then make our way to the bus stop and wait for a few crowded buses to just pass us by. So we are always home past midnight!
Developments, I have to understand...but still, it's sad to see one by one, places full of memories disappear. From the National Library at Stamford Road, to just that small McDonald's outlet near my secondary school and now the stadium. It has to make way for a new Sports Hub comprising of a new 55,000-seater stadium, a 6,000-seat indoor aquatic centre and a 3,000-seat multi purpose arena, ready by 2011. For four or five years, NDP will be held on a floating platform with 27,000 seating capacity at the Marina Bay.
Farewell...
naniz @ 6:27:00 PM