Marina Bay Sands holds grand opening celebration

The $5.5 bln Marina Bay Sands is set to have its Grand Opening Celebration on Wednesday, 23 June 2010.

Close to 4,000 VIPs, ticketed public and media from Singapore and around the world will be entertained by a spectacular program as part of the resort's Opening Celebration, a Marina Bay Sands report said.

The event line-up includes all the glitz and glamour befitting of the architecturally-stunning destination in the heart of the city’s Central Business District.

“Our preview event provided a sneak peek into what Marina Bay Sands will offer. Now, with our Opening Celebration, we are planning to celebrate with our VIP guests in style,” said Mr. Thomas Arasi, President and CEO of Marina Bay Sands said in a report released 17 June.

The event follows the opening of the resort on 27 April.

The grand opening is expected to create a buzz throughout the island which is anticipating the presence of Singaporean celebrities, business leaders and glitterati.

One of the highlights of the grand event is the first-ever World Championship Climb to the Sands SkyPark which will see seven teams of three in an extreme relay climb on each of the three hotel towers. The climbers, who represent seven different regions and over 10 countries around the world including Singapore, China, Thailand, Vietnam and the United Kingdom, are all world-class professional climbers.

Each team must scale the 55-storey towers in succession, followed by a sprint across the 340-meter long Sands Skypark to a dramatic finish line where TV cameras and news media will await the winners. After the competition, skydivers will descend over Marina Bay Sands, and land in the Marina Bay reservoir to signify the conclusion of the competition and commencement of the evening’s entertainment.

Las Vegas and Broadway smash hit Jersey Boys, JJ Lin, and Singapore Idol 2009 1st Runner-up Sylvia Ratonel will provide one hour of non-stop entertainment. Las Vegas Sands Corp. Owner, Chairman and CEO, Mr. Sheldon G. Adelson, and other senior executives will also light a spectacular comet over the destination to mark the occasion.