19 Jun 13
Back in 1973

The National Stadium is a Singapore icon. It was also for many years, the sole raison d’etre for the existence of Singapore Pools, its first sponsor.

The story began in 1965 - Singapore had just attained independence. Its young leaders were full of ideas and the fledging nation needed funds to implement them. As a matter of national pride, a respectable sports stadium was needed to host international and regional sporting events was in the pipeline.



Social Affairs Minister and keen sportsman Othman Wok was with an official delegation to Bulgaria in 1966 when, among the topics of conversation that came up, was the way Bulgaria had raised money for sport through a national lottery. The Finance Ministry studied the proposal and was convinced the scheme was workable. Cabinet approved the idea, well pleased to find a source of sports funding that doubled to hit illegal gambling operators.

On 23 May 1968, Singapore Pools, a private company owned by the Ministry of Finance, was set up to run the lottery . A unique staff-hiring policy was also put in place, ensuring that jobs were offered first and foremost to footballers, basketball

players athletes and other sports people in need of understanding employers who would give them time off to hone their physical skills.

Between 1968 and 1976, with proceeds from its two lottery games - Toto and Singapore Sweep - Singapore Pools contributed $14.5 million to the National Stadium project. The company also helped the Stadium repay a government loan of $7.8 million meant as start-up money for a stadium management corporation.

On 21 July 1973, the National Stadium was officially opened by then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. It marked a major milestone in Singapore’s sporting history. Minister for Social Affairs, Othman Wok, put it aptly, “Today’s opening of the National Stadium gives us all an opportunity to renew our determination that sports must be an essential part of our national life – in fact, not just in theory.”

The first major event held at the National Stadium was the VII Southeast Asia Peninsula Games in 1973. In the following years, the stadium witnessed the proudly patriotic phenomenon dubbed "The Kallang Roar" when the national football team displayed their fancy footwork against visiting teams. The multi-functional complex has also seen the likes of megastars such as Michael Jackson and Bob Dylan strut their stuff. It is, up till now, a regular venue for the annual National Day extravaganza.



Source: “Just A Little Flutter, the Singapore Pools Story”
by Ilsa Sharp, 1998.



  Visit “A Tribute to Our National Stadium” microsite and share your memories of the National Stadium at www.ndp.org.sg.