Archive for December, 2007
Churches Bring Christmas Message To Orchard Road
SINGAPORE: Amidst the gift-buying and giving in Orchard Road, churches in Singapore have banded together to remind people how Christmas came about.
A modern take on the birth of Jesus is being performed outside Plaza Singapura. The shepherds may be groovier than they were 2,000 years ago, but they still play an important part in the Christmas story.
Part of an S$800,000 project organised by Singapore churches to celebrate Christmas, it is of no coincidence that the performance is being shown in the popular shopping district.
Peter Sng, chief coordinator of Celebrate Christmas in Singapore, said: “As in every modernising society, along the way it loses some of its impact, the real meaning, that’s why it’s essential for us - the Christian community - to bring back the essence of Christmas.”
This is the fourth year Celebrate Christmas in Singapore has organised such an event and work on the production started a year ago.
Forty-two churches, as well as overseas performers from Brazil, Kenya and Hawaii, are involved in the production.
The shows will run every night at 7pm till 24 December. On Christmas Day, part of Orchard Road will be closed off so that a stage can be built for a locally written production called the ‘Lights of December’.
- CNA/so
Channel News Asia
SEA Games: Delightful Calm Before Official Opening
KORAT, Thailand: The hosts promise a grand ceremony on Thursday as Korat gears up for the official opening of the 24th SEA Games at His Majesty the King’s 80th Birthday Anniversary Stadium.
School students will dance, there will be dazzling lights and stunts and costumes on display, and the legendary warmth of the Thais will stand out.
Just like it did all around the city on Wednesday to mark the 80th birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
While it was a national holiday, as well as Father’s Day for the Thais, the eve of the official opening of the SEA Games saw the various teams take time off to officially open the Athletes’ Village.
All 11 flags of the participating members of the SEA Games Federation were raised in the international zone of the village.
Singapore chef-de-mission (CDM) Low Teo Ping and the assistant CDM, Dr Bervyn Lee, raised Singapore’s five stars and crescent into the Korat sky at approximately 6.30pm (7.30pm, Singapore time).
“We wanted to get as many first-timers as possible to be here tonight to soak up the atmosphere,” said Low.
“To be here with other athletes, before the Games begin, it’s part of the whole experience.”
There was a candlelight procession following the ceremony to mark the Thai King’s birthday and the mood in the air was one of expectancy, 24 hours before the Games’ flame is lit.
The Thais who packed the Klang Plaza Jomsurang department store yesterday afternoon to watch the men and women’s table tennis team finals were a passionate lot.
Every point scored by a Thai player drew roars of applause and horns blared.
A soldier guarding an entrance even pumped his fists when a Thai woman player won a set.
In stark contrast, the only sound greeting a point for Singapore was the cheers from their own team-mates. In the end, Singapore won both ties 3-0 and the two teams were politely applauded.
Singapore’s two-gold haul in table tennis took the Republic to 10 in all and it’s an impressive haul, considering the Games have yet to have an official lift off.
“What can I say,” said a beaming Low, after the paddlers’ triumph.
“But I’m still not going to put more pressure on the athletes, we’ll just have to take it one event at a time.”
But with 10 gold in Singapore’s column already, surely Low would be willing to revise his target to, say, 50?
“Hey, that was TODAY’s prediction, not mine,” he laughed.
“I’m sticking to my ‘bandwidth’ of 35 to 45 gold medals. It’s more important that the athletes just better their personal bests.”
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Channel News Asia