[2 September 2006]
SMU is first to hold sports festival at Marina Bay

Singapore, 2 September 2006 – Singapore Management University (SMU) will hold its annual Watershock event at Marina Bay from 10am to 7pm. It is the first time that section of the Marina Bay is used for a water carnival. There will be exciting activities like telematches, rollerblading, kite flying and reverse bungee, as well as performances by the band EIC and Samba Masala. Participants will also be able to shop at the flea market run by SMU students or pick up snacks at the food bazaar. Besides the land activities, there will also be water activities such as sailing, wakeboarding, kayaking, canoe polo, banana boat and waterwheel! CCA members of SMU, the different SMU schools and Singapore JC students can team up and compete against one another in the SMU TEVA Dragon Boat Competition.

Watershock 2006 aims to provide an avenue for SMU students to interact and bond with the SMU community in an outdoor environment and promote a healthy lifestyle. Mr. Alan Koh, Assistant Director (Sports) at SMU's Office of Student Life, commented that “Watershock 2006 with its theme - bigger and bolder - will definitely see a much larger turn-out this year because of its venue and many new sporting activities for the day. With the start of the new semester, it will certainly be a good platform – outside the usual campus environment – for students, faculty members, staff and their family members to bond, chill out and just enjoy themselves.” Students from various tertiary institutions such as NUS, NTU and SIM will also be able to participate in the activities.

The event, held in Marina Bay, ties in with the Urban Redevelopment Authority's plan to promote the Marina Bay area as a hub for water sport activities like dragon boat racing, kayaking and waterfront marathons. This also sets the pace when the Singapore Sports Council will organise WaterFest by the Bay in September 2006.

Watershock 2006 is organised by SMUXtremists (SMUX) and SMU Sports Union (SSU), and proudly supported by SMU, Singapore Sports Council, Singapore Pools and the Singapore Totalisator Board. Other sponsors for lucky draw prizes and competitions include Olympus and Creative.

The official website for Watershock 2006 is http://watershock2006.blogspot.com