The Singapore Sports Hub has played host to world-class acts like Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift, and has been home to premier sporting events such as the HSBC Rugby SVNS and the Festival of Football. While these events have dazzled global audiences, for teaching assistant and avid runner Ngor Cheng En, the venue holds a more personal significance — it was where he crossed the finish line of the 2023 Standard Chartered Marathon.
The 27-year-old first found out about the open house through a Facebook post by Singapore Athletics, and wasted no time heading down to the National Stadium while promptly sharing the event details with his running group, SSTAR Fitness.
A group of members in bright blue running tanks were already warming up on the track that early evening for one of their regular training sessions.
“Sometimes we train at the multi-coloured promenade, but its 888m distance isn’t ideal. We prefer the 400m track for more structured intervals,” he said.
“It’s great here — since it’s an indoor stadium, it’s all-weather, and the big fans keep it quite cool. Running in the stadium just feels different. There’s a novelty factor,” Cheng En added, pledging to return as often as he can before the open house ends on June 22.
Stepping onto the track also brings back fond memories of the 2024 Great Eastern Women’s Run 10km race for housewife Diana Novoselova.
The Russian-born 40-year-old finally had the chance to return to the iconic venue on June 3, the second day of the National Stadium’s three-week-long open house.
“It’s so good to be back. I finished here in the Great Eastern Women’s Run and once during the Standard Chartered Marathon, and I still remember the emotions I felt. This track motivates me — I use it for interval running, which is very tough,” she said.
Usually running along the multi-coloured promenade on the stadium's perimeter, being back on the track is a refreshing change for Diana, who is already preparing for November’s Great Eastern Women’s Run.
Having formed a Russian-speaking running community earlier this year, Diana is eager to return to the track in the coming days.
“I came to test out the track and see if I could do running drills here. It’s really good, and I want to come back this Friday for some drills with my friends,” she added.
For both recreational and elite athletes, one common draw remains: the National Stadium is outfitted with a world-class Mondo track — the same surface used at multiple Olympic Games — offering a professional-grade platform for high-performance training.
World Masters decathlete Takayuki Akahodani was delighted to be back on the track where he competed in several sprint events during the 2023 Singapore Masters Invitational Meet.
“I’ve had a few opportunities to run on this track, and it’s definitely better than others I’ve trained on. This is a Mondo track — it’s perfect, one of the highest-quality surfaces available. And because it’s indoors, there’s no need to worry about the weather,” said the 52-year-old Osaka native.
Takayuki, chairman of the Asian Inter-Club Athletics Alliance Singapore, also coaches young athletes. He typically holds training sessions three times a week at the Kallang Practice Track, also known as the Home of Athletics.
But after receiving a message from Singapore Athletics about the open house, Akahodani was eager to give his team of 15 young athletes a rare chance to train on a world-class track.
His enthusiasm was mirrored by the next generation of athletes. For a group of teenage athletes from Cicada Trackers, the opportunity to train at the National Stadium was also too good to pass up — even during their off-season.
“We saw it on the Singapore Athletics Instagram page this morning and decided to come down,” Hwa Chong Institution sprinter Tan Le Xiao said.
“The track quality is different, and it is faster, so you feel more bounce. It is better for speed training,” the 17-year-old added.
Together with clubmate Kayden Fang, this was their first time training in the National Stadium since the National School Games Finals.
“It’s a good experience to take some time off to see where we compete and take some time to appreciate it,” Kayden said.
Their National Stadium training session turned into a mini club reunion as they bumped into fellow clubmates Alexis Teo, Alexa Tan, and Chloe Chee.
For Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) student Chloe, the venue provided her with more motivation, as she enjoyed the atmosphere of training at the National Stadium.
Schoolmate Alexis added: “We usually train at Yio Chu Kang Stadium, so it is a lot further and the traffic is worse there. It’s more convenient here.”
Methodist Girls' School student Alexa, who competes in 100m and 200m sprint races, said that she would come down to train “once a week or a few times a week” during the open house.
“It’s really fun and it’s more light-hearted because we are not here to race,” she added.
With the June holidays just around the corner, the open house also hopes to welcome children, students, and families, offering them a unique chance to explore and enjoy the National Stadium together.
Married couple Sarah Hatta and Yazid brought their young daughter for a run on the track after stumbling upon news of the open house on social media.
“Recently, we’ve been trying to start running as a family. We usually go to the neighbourhood stadium, but they don’t allow kids,” said the 32-year-old mother.
“It’s quite conducive here — it’s shaded, there’s music, and the environment is very family-friendly. My daughter was really happy to be on the track,” she added, noting that they planned to return the next day for another family outing.
Echoing similar sentiments, Jade Zheng found the space ideal for her two energetic kids, aged six and eight. She said that the event offered the perfect kid-friendly environment for them to “expand their energy”.
“It's a very good place for them to run safely, coupled with the fact that it's also enclosed. And there are security personnel all around. They should really maximise this space more. I will be back because it's very close to me. I would love to come here and use this more often if there is an opportunity,” she said.
Meanwhile, retiree Abby Goh, who runs daily near the Stadium area, the open house was a chance encounter.
“We walked past and wondered if we could go in. Someone ushered us in, and we were very pleased that the Stadium is finally open for us to enjoy,” the 60-year-old said.
Together with her husband, Goh Tiong Wee, the pair thoroughly enjoyed their first run on the tracks.
“It’s very nice because there’s no sun. I am not worried about falling as there are no obstacles. I don’t need to count my distance, and I don’t have to plug in my earpieces as there’s music playing. It is wonderful,” Abby said.
Sharing the news of a new running spot with her colleague, Abby added that she will return for her daily runs.
“We are very thankful that the government decided to open this place for the public to run, and we welcome more such activities,” she added.
The National Stadium Open House runs from June 2 to 22, with opening hours from 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm on Mondays to Thursdays, and from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm on Fridays to Sundays. Children can also enjoy massive inflatables inspired by beloved Singapore icons (only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays), from the old-school Dragon Slide to Clarke Quay bumboats, along with safari- and unicorn-themed bouncy castles. Find out more information here.
Parents and children can also discover the joy of dance-fitness with Step, Shake, Shine, happening on 14, 15 June, and 21, 22 June — for a limited time only. Register for classes today and take the first step toward a healthier, happier you!
Don’t miss this chance to experience the stadium like never before—bring the whole family down for fun, fitness, and unforgettable memories! All visitors, including those using wheelchairs or strollers, can access the spacious concourse level via Gate 12, which offers step-free entry and a clear view of the stadium.
