Slow off the mark?

Singapore is not exactly the greatest sporting nation in Asia but it has won the right to host the 2010 Youth Olympic Games tonight.

The news didn't come as a surprise as Singapore looks more exciting than Moscow due to the former's fast-changing landscape. Singapore's new attractions include the Singapore Flyer, the Formula One race later this year, a new downtown by Marina Bay, two big integrated resorts (Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World at Sentosa) by 2010 or 2011.

The hosting of the inaugural junior Olympics will be a big boost to Singapore, which is reinventing itself.

However, it would have been more ideal if the Singapore Sports Hub could have been completed in time for the big sporting event.

Singapore last month said it will award a contract to build and operate the new sports hub at the site of the current National Stadium. The winning consortium will start construction of the waterfront facility in April and complete it by the end of 2011.

Was plan for the sports hub slow off the mark?

Singapore Flyer

Mom noticed that some capsules are already installed at the Singapore Flyer, which will be the tallest ferris wheel in the world when it is completed by next March. Mom took the pix but it's not so clear with her mobile phone. Grandma had borrowed our camera.

You can see a live pix on the project developer's website.

We can't wait to try the ferris wheel but I'm sure the developer will bar dogs like me from boarding it although I'm very sweet and nice. And mom and dad will always pick up my poop. :-)

Singapore is not exactly the most pet-friendly place in the world. :-(

Eyes on Singapore, Malaysia

Both Singapore and Malaysia are rushing to complete their respective giant ferris wheel projects to help woo more tourists.

As in many things since the separation of the two countries in 1965, Singapore will have the edge.

The Singapore Flyer will be the world's biggest with a diameter of 178 metres. This will surpass record holder -- London Eye, which has a height of 135 metres.

Eye on Malaysia will have a diameter of a mere 60 metres. But the Malaysian Eye will start operations this weekend, while the Singapore project will only be completed next year.

(Pix source: The Singapore Flyer)

(Pix source: Screenshots)