New Singapore sports hub on track for June opening: officials

SINGAPORE - Singapore on Monday opened an aquatic centre at its new S$1.3 billion sports hub and officials said the entire complex would be ready by late June despite teething problems.

Lawrence Wong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, said the sprawling complex will be opened in stages, with test events held in the coming weeks to help resolve operational problems.

"We do not think it's wise to have a big bang, you really need a series of test events to work out all the teething issues," Wong told reporters at Monday's opening of the 6,000-seater aquatic centre, which was initially scheduled to open in mid-April.

It is the first facility to be completed at the Singapore Sports Hub, a 35-hectare (86.5-acre) complex, which includes a 55,000-seat national stadium that features a retractable domed roof and innovative cooling system.

The aquatic centre will host the Southeast Asia Swimming Championships from June 16-24, the first in a series of events at the complex.

From June 21-22, the national stadium will host the rugby World Club 10s, while the World University Floorball Championships will be held at an indoor arena the same month.

Tennis's end-of-season WTA Championships this year have already been confirmed for the indoor stadium alongside the venue.

International badminton and netball events are also on the schedule for the sports hub, which has community facilities and a retail mall.

The complex will open to the public on June 27 and 28.