It seemed only yesterday that we began our visioning workshop in Aug last year at the Marina Bay Seating Gallery. This month, we will be starting the combined rehearsals with 7300 participants on the floating platform. Our NDP journey is reaching its final milestone before heading for its final destination. What we had conceived in our minds and captured as plans on paper will soon be played out as actual performances at the Bay. What we collective agreed as our vision is rapidly turning into reality.  

On the first day of May, we celebrated our 100-day countdown to NDP 2008. Planners, participants and partners turned out in great numbers at The Arena in Clarke Quay to mark this important milestone. It also coincided with the taking over of the Floating Platform for the construction of the NDP stage set. A 3-tier stage set with lightning structures towering up to 30 metres in height will become the focal point for the parade. It will give a brand new look and feel to the show.  

The publicity campaign for NDP 2008 has started. Members from the media were enthused about the new concept and theme for this year NDP. We hope the energy and enthusiasm will be sustained as we continue to reveal more details of the parade and share inspiring stories of individuals and teams to make the parade a defining experience for the thousands of spectators and themselves. We want the rest of Singapore to know how the Singapore Spirit has inspired us in the conceptualization, planning and execution of the parade. We want the rest of Singapore to catch and celebrate the Singapore Spirit with us.   

As the rehearsals commence, the speed and momentum of the preparations will reach feverish pace. There will be many last minute demands and coordination to be resolved. There will be unexpected requirements to be met, unforeseen contingencies to be catered for and unreasonable personalities to be dealt with. All these will test our resolve and strength as a cohesive team. But I am confident we will excel as a team if we stay focused on our vision for success, keep our channels of communications and cooperation open, and commit our efforts to understand each other’s needs.  

I have every reason to be optimistic that it will indeed be the case because every participant and planner that I meet in my interaction gives me confidence that the team spirit to cooperate and the desire to succeed are strong and striving. I see it in their sweat on their brows, I hear it in the songs on their lips and I feel it in the rhythm of their moves.  

Finally, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your dedication and commitment to make NDP 2008 meaningful and defining. Let us all strive to deliver our vision of providing an engaging and emotive NDP 2008 to the nation. Let us enjoy the final lap of our journey together. Let the rehearsals begin!

COL Tung Yui Fai Chairman EXCO NDP 2008