Mr Ng Ser Miang

Chairman, Singapore Sports Council

Distinguished guests

Ladies and gentlemen

Good morning

I am very pleased to be here today for the marking of the Singapore Badminton Hall. This is indeed a significant event for sports and the Sports Council as the SBH is the first-ever sports facility in Singapore to be marked for historical significance by the Historic Sites Unit. I understand that it is the 35^th site to be marked.

2 Sporting landmarks in Singapore are anything but cold and dull buildings. Our older facilities such as the SBH have a rich history where we can learn and share from our past in preparing ourselves for the future.

3 The Singapore Badminton Hall has hosted prestigious events such as the 3^rd and 4^th Thomas Cup competitions in 1955 and 1958 respectively. More recently it hosted the SEA Games in 1983 and 1993.

4 Another historical event was held in this Hall 37 years ago.   1 Sep 62 was the Referendum Day, proposed by the then PM Lee Kuan Yew to seek the views of Singaporeans on the merger with Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak. 624,000 poling cards were issued and the SBH was the counting station for 347 polling stations scattered throughout the island. It was here at the entrance that Mr Lee Kuan Yew led the "Merdeka Malaysia" cry after the victory. This event changed the lives of Singaporeans. The rest as they say is history!

5 Thus the marking of Singapore Badminton Hall is a historic site will serve to heighten the awareness of its historical significance as well as promote a deeper appreciation of its history and heritage to the public. Badminton legend the late Wong Peng Soon played in this hall. We should try to produce someone like him to help us achieve PM Goh Chok Tong’s target for Singapore to qualify for the Thomas Cup final in 2012. We will have to start grooming players from now. I hope this Hall’s illustrious past will contribute to motivate and fire our players to re-live those momentous moments in badminton history.

6 I would like to congratulate the Singapore Sports Council and the National Heritage Board for their efforts in conserving such an important part of our history. A shared history, shared values and common memories will serve to bond all segments of our society into a united and cohesive Singapore. It also encourages more people to be more aware of and preserve our heritage especially in this fast-paced and ever-changing environment. The marking of Singapore Badminton Hall as a historic site will enable all Singaporeans to learn of and appreciate its historical significance.

Thank you.