16 community clubs to show World Cup football matches for free

[Sun Wukong]

16 community clubs to show World Cup football matches for free
By Patwant Singh | Posted: 19 May 2010 1933 hrs
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SINGAPORE: Football fans in Singapore will get to watch matches for the upcoming FIFA World Cup for free. Fans who are still upset as they feel that the subscription cost to watch these matches is too high can now look towards an alternative provided by the five Community Development Councils and the People's Association.

They have tied up with the two telcos, SingTel and StarHub to screen the matches at 16 community clubs around the island. Singapore Pools will help sponsor TV screens at some of these community clubs which lack such facilities.

"It's about us bringing people together, community, all walks of life, race and religion. People from different strata of society, because for the passion for football, being together with friends, families to enjoy the game, I think that's the most important principle behind our effort," said Mr Zainudin Nordin, Mayor of Central Singapore District. Grassroots organisations are also looking at other activities to accompany the screenings which will be indoors.

The two telcos acknowledge that subscriptions for their World Cup packages will be affected by this move. Still they are seeing it as a way of ensuring that Singaporeans in the heartlands are not deprived of watching this major event. The Community Clubs will decide which of the World Cup matches will be screened at their premises. The screenings at the 16 locations will kick off with the first match on the 11 of June and the community clubs will offer the venues for free and take care of in-house facilities and other logistics.

More details on the screenings will be offered at a later date. - CNA/fa