Opening the National Stadium on 21st July 1973, the then Prime Minister Mr. Lee Kuan Yew said: “We live in an artificial city life. Too many people take the lift, briefly amble to a bus stop, and then take another lift to work. Many do not make daily exercise a habit. Sports can help. This stadium should be used to encourage not just watching games, but after watching to engage in sports and athletics.”
Well, he’ll be proud to know I took his word more than literally and the rest as they say is history. In my 15 years as a full fledged athlete, the only thing missing between me and the stadium was a bowling alley. Apart from the bowling training, I spent many hours at the stadium.
The National Stadium housed the Singapore Sports Council and many National Sports Associations including the Bowling Federation. Frequent visits were necessary for meetings and preparations for Games. Most athletes would have made at least a couple visits to the council to apply for grants, collect uniforms and goodie bags for trips.
If it wasn’t for any official business, there was another hang out for athletes and civilians alike. The Sports Medical Centre was a meeting place for many athletes and it was seldom pre-arranged. Injuries and treatments were the most common reason for our visits. Bowlers will bump into football players and you’ll often find swimmers like whales beached on massage beds with their broad shoulders almost over hanging the massage beds. The gym was also right there and the physiotherapists were just the most accommodating lot. In the early days, attending a sports psychology session was deemed mental but it didn’t stop those who believed and trusted in making the time to attend such sessions. It was the very least an avenue to vent their frustrations.
The theatrette which seats 150 or so was also utilized for many group meetings. When visiting athletes gave their motivational speeches and share, it was mainly done in the theartrette. There were 3 main conference rooms where many a sporting committee meeting would have taken place. Policies were formed and argued over.
A Sport Museum which displayed some of the nation’s sporting achievements was not well visited but all the same, it was a filled with the artifacts and documentation of the nation’s best.
The National Stadium is a treasure box indeed.
Contributed by Grace Young
Article migrated from original My Story Portal 2007.
Author. Mantou28