New Paper Big Walk
The New Paper Big Walk is a mass-participation walking event held annually in Singapore. It holds the official Guinness World Record as world's largest walk when a record-breaking 77,500 participants joined on 21 May 2000 at the Singapore National Stadium to mark the 10th anniversary.
The 10-kilometre walk takes an estimated 3 hours to complete and usually starts from its traditional starting point, Singapore National Stadium at 6 o'clock in the morning.
History
The event was founded by The New Paper. The very first Big Walk took place on 16 June 1991, and only 4,500 walkers were expected. However, expectations were exceeded when more than 7,000 walkers showed up on the day of the walk. Since then, the event has become more popular and today boasts the participation of tens of thousands of people annually.
On its 10th anniversary, The New Paper Big Walk 2000 broke into the official Guinness World record as World's Largest Walk. Having the Guinness certificate means that this popular Singaporean mass event has ranked among the largest world events, such as the Boston Marathon.
The event took a one-year hiatus in 2007, amid news that its venue of choice, the National Stadium at Kallang & Madash, was going to be torn down to make way for a world-class integrated sports' hub.
Locations
The Singapore National Stadium
Regarded as the venue of choice by The New Paper for its crowd-friendly features, character and location, the Singapore National Stadium has long been an integral part to the event's success.
However, the impending news that the Singapore government had plans to tear down the National Stadium to make way for a new state-of-the-art integrated sports hub led to the organizers decision to take a one-year hiatus as they went in search of an alternative venue for the event.
The 2008 edition of the event was relocated to Marina Bay area and was aptly renamed "The Big Walk on Water."
The Marina Barrage
As part of The New Paper's 20th-anniversary celebrations, The New Paper Big Walk relocated to Singapore's "coolest" and "hottest" spots.
Flagging off at Suntec City's Fountain of Wealth, the revised 5 kilometres walk take participants across the Marina Channel, The Esplanade, the Singapore Flyer, and part of the race track of the Formula One Singtel Singapore Grand Prix, which was held on 28 September 2008, before ending at the Marina Barrage.
The Big Walk on Water
The "Big Walk on Water" is the new event name for The New Paper Big Walk as it makes its transition from the crowd-friendly National Stadium to the waters of Marina Bay.
The event, which returned after a one-year hiatus, also marked the 20th anniversary of its organizers—The New Paper—and allowed readers and participants a chance to "walk on water" by crossing the dam across the Marina Channel.
Participation
The New Paper Big Walk has been attracting more and more locals, which explain the leap in numbers, an increase by approximately 11 times since its inaugural walk back in 1991.
Today, the event attracts a healthy participation rate that includes both registered and non-registered participants that add to the spectacle of the event.
Programs and contests
Other than the 5 km walk, there was a series of fun-filled programs and contests organised.
A post walk carnival at Suntec City Mall was held, where three contests like Spot Me, Green Fancy Dress and Stabilo Colouring awarded Fairprice shopping vouchers.
Significance
The Big Walk on Water 2008 was organised to mark three significant events that happened that year.
First, the event was held as part of the celebrations for the success of the inaugural Formula One Singtel Singapore Grand Prix race—F1's first ever night race—held on 28 September 2008, by moving participants onto part of the race track where the drivers drove on race day.
Second, the event was also to mark the opening of the new Marina Barrage that officially opened on 1 November 2008. Participants of the Big Walk on Water will most likely be the first few people to be allowed to visit the magnificent new Barrage and reservoir at Marina Bay.
The Big Walk on Water was organised to mark the 20th anniversary of "The New Paper". The change of name and its new location highlight and signify the "New Paper's" evolution to become one of Singapore's best selling newspapers today.
The New Paper Big Walk@Marina Bay 2010
After skipping a year, the New Paper Big Walk returned in 2010. It was held on 18 July 2010, in conjunction with the significant openings of many new developments in Singapore. The 5 km route will allow the walkers to take in sights such as the Marina Bay skyline, the Singapore Flyer and the Helix Bridge, at a leisurely pace. Some 20,000 participants were expected to put their best foot forward for The New Paper Big Walk @ Marina Bay 2010. The Big Walk was co-organised by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), with sponsors NTUC FairPrice, Singapore Flyer, POSBank, Anlene, Nikon Singapore and Asus Singapore. More details can be found at this website: https://web.archive.org/web/20100525102838/http://www.newpaperbigwalk.sg/
References
- Retrieved from History: The New Paper Big Walk on Water 2008 Official Website on 10 November 2008 from
- Retrieved from Info for Big Walkers: The New Paper Big Walk on Water 2008 Official Website on 10 November 2008 from
- Retrieved on 10 November 2008 from
- Retrieved from Big Walk Returns on Water on 10 November 2008 from
- Singapore Press Holdings
- Singapore Press Holdings
- EveryTrail