Venues and Themes
The venue of the parade is usually at the historical grounds of the Padang, where the declaration of Singapore's independence was held. Since the first parade in 1966, all the way to 1975, the venue was located in this central area to bring the parade closer to the people. In 1976, the parade was held for the first time at the newly completed National Stadium, where the much larger capacity allowed for more to view the parade live.
Although offering about 60,000 seats in the National Stadium, the demand for tickets remained high. Hence there were several attempts to decentralise the venue to bring the celebration closer to more Singaporeans. From 1975 to 1983, celebrations were alternated between a decentralised event and one centered at the Padang or stadium. From 1984, the parade was held twice at the stadium before being brought back to the Padang. This three year cycle was repeated up to 1994.
From 1995, it was decided that the Padang would be used as the venue every five years. The Padang, although historically important, posed a greater logistical challenge and also offered fewer seats for spectators. The event and rehearsals also required the closing of surrounding roads. There was a need to construct temporary spectator stands around the field. The site remained, however, the only feasible venue for the mobile column, as the heavy vehicles could not be driven onto the stadium track. The Padang was used as the main performance venue for the 2005 parade, with fringe activities decentralised to Marina South, Jurong East, Yishun and Tampines.
Arrangements needed review by the early 2000s (decade) when plans were made to rebuild the National Stadium. Several alternate locations were mooted, including the utilisation of the Marina Padang, which is physically bigger and less likely to disrupt daily functions in the city.
On 16 October 2005, it was announced that that 2006 NDP would be held at the old stadium for the last time before moving to The Float at Marina Bay . The 130 metre by 100 metre platform would be used for the next five years until the new stadium is completed. Although offering a seating capacity of only 27,000, which is less than National Stadium, there is a vast area for 150,000 extra spectators along the Marina Bay waterfront.
Since the 2000s (decade), every year's parade would revolve around a theme which would guide the planning of the parade and show.
Year | Venue | Theme | Slogan/Tagline | Organiser |
---|---|---|---|---|
1966-1974 | Padang | |||
1975 | Decentralised Sites | |||
1976 | National Stadium | 2 SIB | ||
1977 | Decentralised sites | |||
1978 | Padang | |||
1979 | Decentralised sites | |||
1980 | National Stadium | Courtesy - Our Way of Life | ||
1981 | Decentralised sites | Energy is Precious - Save It | ||
1982 | Padang | |||
1983 | Decentralised sites | |||
1984 | Padang | 25 Years of Nation Building, 1959–1984 | Reach Out Singapore | 3 SIB |
1985 | National Stadium | |||
1986 | National Stadium | Together...Excellence for Singapore | 2 SIB | |
1987 | Padang | 3 SIB | ||
1988 | National Stadium | Excellence Together, Singapore Forever | Singapore Artillery | |
1989 | National Stadium | 2 SIB | ||
1990 | Padang | One People, One Nation, One Singapore | 25 Years of Nationhood and Another 25 Years of Achievements | HQ Armour |
1991 | National Stadium | My Singapore | Singapore Combat Engineers | |
1992 | National Stadium | My Singapore, My Home | Singapore Air Defense Artillery | |
1993 | Padang | Nation on Parade | HQ Armour | |
1994 | National Stadium | 7 SIB | ||
1995 | Padang | 30 Years of Nationhood/A Nation in Harmony | HQ Armour | |
1996 | National Stadium | Singapore Combat Engineers | ||
1997 | National Stadium | Our Singapore, Our Future | NDP 1997 Musical Extravanganza | Singapore Artillery |
1998 | National Stadium | Our Singapore, Our Future | 7 SIB | |
1999 | National Stadium | Our People | Together We Make The Difference | 6 Div |
2000 | Padang | 3 Div | ||
2001 | National Stadium | Building Bridges, Forging Futures | 9 Div | |
2002 | National Stadium | A Caring Nation | Together, A New Singapore | HQ Armour |
2003 | National Stadium | A Cohesive Society | HQ Guards | |
2004 | National Stadium | A Progressive Society | 6 Div | |
2005 | Padang | 40 Years of Nation Building | The Future is Ours to Make | 3 Div |
2006 | National Stadium | Our Global City, Our Home | Singapore Guards | |
2007 | Marina Bay | City of Possibilities | Singapore Combat Engineers | |
2008 | Marina Bay | Celebrating the Singapore Spirit | HQ Guards | |
2009 | Marina Bay | Come Together - Reaching Out.Reaching Up | 3 Div | |
2010 | Padang | Live Our Dreams, Fly Our Flag | HQ Armour | |
2011 | Marina Bay | Majulah! The Singapore Spirit | Singapore Combat Engineers | |
2012 | Marina Bay | Loving Singapore, Our Home | HQ Guards | |
2013 | Marina Bay | 3 Div |
Read more about this topic: National Day Parade
Famous quotes containing the word themes:
“I suppose you think that persons who are as old as your father and myself are always thinking about very grave things, but I know that we are meditating the same old themes that we did when we were ten years old, only we go more gravely about it.”
—Henry David Thoreau (18171862)