SINGAPORE, May 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

First competitive venue in Asia to install Desso GrassMaster system 100% natural grass pitch with fibre reinforcements

SportsHub Pte Ltd today unveiled to the world the National Stadium pitch that will play host to football, rugby, cricket and athletics for years to come. With the Desso GrassMaster system delivering a state-of-the-art pitch, the National Stadium will fulfil its role as a multi-functional venue for sports and entertainment.

As the focal point for the 55,000-seater National Stadium, the pitch is a blend of two types of grass seeds - Rye and Blue Grass. The 100%-natural grass is injected with artificial fibres 18 centimetres deep, every two centimetres across the pitch. This results in the natural grass roots growing around some 114 million protective filaments (20 million fibres), thus anchoring the field.

This unique system, also used in London's famous Wembley Stadium and many other world-class venues, offers stability and reinforcement, ensuring a uniform, reliable and visually attractive surface in perfect condition at all times.

Since the installation of the Desso GrassMaster pitch in 2010 at Wembley Stadium, more than 150 football, rugby and NFL matches along with six months of concerts have taken place at the stadium.

Drawing on this knowledge and experience, Desso CEO Alexander Collot d'Escury said: "Supplying the pitch for the Singapore Sports Hub is obviously a prestigious project for our company and hopefully an inspiration for other multi-functional stadiums.  With the Desso GrassMaster system, we enable stadiums to combine sports and events in the same location, without compromising on the grass pitch. The project is an excellent example of Desso's continued growth strategy for both our carpet and sports business in Asia."

SportsHub Pte Ltd, CEO, Philippe Collin Delavaud said: "The pitch forms an integral part of the National Stadium and the Desso GrassMaster system truly does justice to what will be one of the most innovative sports stadiums in the world. We look forward to welcoming spectators to our exciting line-up of sports and entertainment events, as well as everyday visitors and members of the community to play on this world-class pitch."

The first test event to be held at the National Stadium will be the Rugby World Club 10s on 21 and 22 June 2014. A physical and demanding game, the rugby event will provide a good first test for the pitch. Mr Low Teo Ping, President of the Singapore Rugby Union was glad to see the pitch coming to reality, saying: "I have been following the progress of the pitch to date, and it's certainly looking very good. The Desso surface promises a high standard of play for rugby as well as other sports, and I am waiting to see that being tested come 21 and 22 June competitively at the World Club 10s, which will be the first real test event for the stadium and the pitch."

Come August the National Stadium will transform itself into football mode ahead of Singapore vs Malaysia on 8 August, followed by the Singapore vs Juventus game the following week. Head Coach of the Singapore National Team, Mr. Bernd Stange said: "I am delighted with the standard of the turf at the new National Stadium, which is ideal for the quick-passing playing philosophy we have adopted for our National Teams. I am sure the players share my enthusiasm and hopes of playing matches regularly on this wonderful new pitch against top-level opponents. With the lush new pitch, and the spanking new hi-tech facilities, and a crowd of 55,000 cheering our Lions on, the atmosphere will be electric, and the experience will be magical, emotional and unforgettable."

Along with football and rugby soon to feature at the National Stadium, cricket is another popular sport that will benefit from this state-of-the-art turf solution. Mr. Prakash Vijaykumar, CEO, Singapore Cricket Association, expressed: "We at Singapore Cricket Association are delighted with the new cricketing facility being developed at the Sports Hub.  The new technology of Desso hybrid grass is well suited for a multi-sport facility providing competent multi-purpose playing surfaces for various sports being planned at the Sports hub. This technology provides an ideal surface for cricket without taking away any traditional aspects of the game and is slowly becoming a preferred choice for Cricketing facilities around the world. We look forward to the Sports Hub being completed for us to bring high profile international cricketing events into Singapore and make Singapore a cricketing hub in this part of the world."

About  Desso  Sports  Systems

Desso  Sports  Systems,  more  than  30  years  of  international  experience  in  sports  surfaces

The company is the international specialist in innovative sports fields for football, rugby and hockey as well as tennis courts and multifunctional fields. Over time, the company has installed more than 55 million m² of artificial and reinforced natural grass worldwide at both amateur and professional clubs.

Desso Sports Systems is a FIFA Licensee for football turf and an active member of various associations including ESSMA.

Desso Sports Systems is part of Desso. Desso's vision is to make products that contribute to people's health and wellbeing. Desso is a global player in carpets, carpet tiles and sport pitches and is active in more than 100 countries. Desso products are supplied to corporate offices, education, healthcare, government, homes and also hotels, cruise liners and airlines.

For more information, please visit the Desso Sports System website: http://www.dessosports.com.

About  Singapore  Sports  Hub

The Singapore Sports Hub will be Singapore's premier sports, entertainment and lifestyle hub with integrated community programming.

Consisting of a unique cluster development of integrated world-class sports facilities within the city, it will play a critical role in accelerating the development of sports industry, excellence and participation, and will take sports to the next level in Singapore.

Located on a 35-hectare site in Kallang, the Singapore Sports Hub will include the following facilities:

• A new 55,000-capacity National Stadium with a retractable roof and movable tiered seating
• A 6,000-capacity OCBC Aquatic Centre that meets FINA standards
• A 3,000-capacity OCBC Arena which will be scalable and flexible in layout
• Water Sports Centre featuring dragon boating, kayaking and canoeing
• 41,000 sq m Kallang Wave Mall  
• The iconic Singapore Indoor Stadium
• Singapore Sports Museum
• Sports Hub Library
• Daily community facilities and activities open for Singaporeans, including beach volleyball, hard courts for basketball, lawn bowls, giant chess, skate park, climbing wall and running/cycling circuit

The Singapore Sports Hub, which is managed by SportsHub Pte Ltd, is one of the largest sporting Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project in the world. It is also Singapore's largest flagship PPP project of this nature, and has won the PFI award in London in 2011 and the World Architecture Festival Award for Best Future Project in the leisure-led development category in 2013.

For more information, please visit the Singapore Sports Hub website: http://www.sportshub.com.sg

The Public-Private Partnership includes: Sport Singapore, InfraRed Capital Partners, Dragages Singapore Pte Ltd, DTZ Services, and Global Spectrum Asia.

SOURCE Desso Sports Systems