PRESS RELEASE (FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE)

SCS Great Singapore Duck Race 2007 Back for Swan Song?

Singapore, 20 June 2007 –The SCS Great Singapore Duck Race is back with a very important mission to raise funds for charity and bring on some wholesome family fun for the community.

Organized by Festival Square Circle, the SCS Great Singapore Duck Race 2007 will be the 7^th time that the Duck Race is being held at the Singapore River. Powered by the tidal flow of the river, this event might be the swan song for the Duck Race before the Singapore River becomes a reservoir.

  Hugh Yii, Managing Director of Festival Square Circle said: “We’re excited to be back after a 3 year absence. Our ducks have been undergoing intensive training overseas and are ready to do their part for charity. As this may well be the last Duck Race in Singapore, we look forward to the strong support of all Singaporeans, corporations as well as tourists, to make this a historic milestone for all to remember.”

Coming on board as Title Sponsor is Singapore Computer Society (SCS). In celebration of their 40^th anniversary, SCS will be working hard to raise funds for the 6 beneficiaries representing a cross section of needs in the community:

·        Concern and Care Society

·        Handicaps Welfare Association

·        Metta Welfare Association

·        Tampines Family Service Centre

·        Tan Tock Seng Hospital Community Charity Fund

·        TOUCH Community Services

Mr Wilson Tan, President of the Singapore Computer Society, said:” The driving force of SCS involving in this mega charity event, besides celebrating our 40th anniversary, is to spread cheers to the less fortunate groups. We are committed to raise $400,000 for the disabled and the underprivileged through our councils and committees, SCS members and companies. Through the generous sponsorship from companies in the ICT industry, we have managed to raise close to $70,000 worth of prizes towards the event. We are heartened by the support from these companies, and urge the individuals to be a part of this charity by adopting the ducks.”

On behalf of all the beneficiaries, Ms Eunice Toh, Head of Tan Tock Seng Hospital Community Charity Fund, said: "We are really excited to be part of the SCS Great Singapore Duck Race. Not only it is a catchy and fun way of raising funds, it has given all the beneficiaries and volunteers the chance to work together, learn from each other and to form lasting friendships! We hope the public will support our cause and have as much fun as we do in this Duck Race!"

The SCS Great Singapore Duck Race 2007 will kick off with the Adopt-A-Duck season on 20 June 2007. 100,000 rubber duckies will be put up for adoption to raise a target sum of S$1 million for the 6 beneficiaries.

Each adoption certificate for the SCS Great Singapore Duck Race 2007 costs S$10 and offers participants the opportunity to do their part for charity as well as take part in the Duck Race and stand to win attractive prizes.

The adoption tickets for the SCS Great Singapore Duck Race 2007 are available via various channels:

• Singapore Computer Society (SCS)

• Singapore Petroleum Company (SPC) Service Stations

• United Parcel Service (UPS)

• bods.bodynits Outlets

• Our Beneficiaries: Concern and Care Society, Handicaps Welfare Association, Metta Welfare Association, Tampines Family Service Centre, Tan Tock Seng Hospital Community Charity Fund and TOUCH Community Services

Mobile adoption centres at shopping malls will start on 23 and 24 June 2007 at Tampines Mall (Level 4 - outside the open plaza entrance). The mobile adoption centres will travel to other locations including IMM, Raffles Place and Clarke Quay. More information on the mobile adoption centres are available online at www.duckrace.com.sg

Well-known personalities from various fields have come forward to support the SCS Great Singapore Duck Race 2007 as ambassadors for this fundraising event. They include inspirational leader Dr William Tan, former captain of Singapore’s national swimming team Leslie Kwok, food critic & consultant Violet Oon, fashion show producer Daniel Boey and Mathilda D’Silva – Singapore Idol finalist and DJ with 938LIVE and Symphony 92.4 FM.

The actual racing event for the SCS Great Singapore Duck Race 2007 will be held at the Singapore River on 9 September 2007. The starting point for the race will be at Clarke Quay and the finishing point at Boat Quay near Raffles Landing Site.

Attractive prizes worth a total of S$60,000 are up for grabs for the 1^st 50 racing ducks that cross the finishing line.

The SCS Great Singapore Duck Race 2007 is organized by Festival Square Circle. Diakonos Productions is the licensee that holds the rights to organize the Duck Race in Asia. Singapore Computer Society is the Title Sponsor, with Singapore Petroleum Company (SPC) and United Parcel Service (UPS) as Sponsors. The Duck Race is also Co-Sponsored by Alcatel-Lucent Singapore Pte Ltd, bods.bodynits, Microsoft Singapore Pte Ltd, NEC Solutions Asia Pacific, Samsung Asia Pte Ltd and Singtel Telecommunications Limited.

The first ever duck race was brought to Asia and held at the Singapore River in 1998. The winning ducks of the various races are now exhibited at the Asian Civilizations Museum - Singapore River Gallery.

Over the years, the Great Singapore Duck Race has become an annual icon event for the Singapore River and has raised over S$5 million for charity.

The Great Singapore Duck Race has won multiple international and local awards and also set the World Guinness Book of Records for largest number of rubber ducks ever raced out of over 200 events round the world.

Besides the Great Singapore Duck Race, Diakonos Productions has also brought the Duck Race to Malaysia, Hong Kong and China will be the next stop.

***

Past Media Releases: