NDP 2011 - ONWARD SINGAPORE!

At the heart of this year's National Day celebrations lies the Singapore Spirit, and for the first time, the parade will be presented as an integrated musical, announced organisers on 12 May at The Float @ Marina Bay.

National Day Parade (NDP) 2011, which will tell Singapore's story from birth to present through several central characters in five acts, will return to the floating platform this year.

Also unveiled were the parade's theme Majulah! The Singapore Spirit, the logo which resembles a burning flame and the multitude of new media initiatives.



"As we celebrate 46 years of nation-building, we should reflect on how the Singapore Spirit, which is characterised by unity and trust as well as our 'can-do' mentality, has enabled us to achieve so much in such a short span of time," explained Colonel (COL) Alvin Kek, Chairman NDP 2011 Executive Committee.

"In addition, we hope that this year's NDP theme will rally Singaporeans to overcome challenges and stride confidently into the future as one cohesive people."

The burning flame logo symbolises Singaporeans' constant drive for higher levels of success as one people.



Perennial favourites such as the Presidential Gun Salute on the waters of Marina Bay and the Pledge Moment will be back this year, while the Singapore Armed Forces will showcase some of its latest acquisitions such as the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, Seahawk Naval Helicopter and the Unmanned Surface Vessel in the Dynamic Defence Display segment. The Home Team's Multi-Utility Vehicle will also make an appearance.

Before the 9 Aug parade comes, Singaporeans can log on to the official website www.ndp.gov.sg and chat with the NDP 2011 Executive Committee via its social networking page on Facebook. They can also take NDP 2011 on the road with the "NDPOnTheGo" mobile application.



The website features a "Faces of NDP" section, where selected organising committee staff and NDP participants will share their experiences via videos and stories. It will also host a "Reflections Wall" where members of the public can upload their photos, videos and even stories to share with others about what the Singapore Spirit means to them.



Singaporeans can receive regular updates from the NDPeeps teams on popular social media sites such as Facebook, YouTube and Flickr as well as the mobile app, which is available for both Android and Apple smartphone platforms. The app even allows Singaporeans to enjoy special promotions from various retailers.



Over 100,000 Singaporeans are expected to throng the Marina Bay area on 9 Aug. To allow more people to join in the birthday bash, the organisers have planned "Celebrations @ Marina Bay", an initiative which extends the festivities beyond the floating platform to areas such as the Padang, Esplanade Waterfront and Marina Barrage.

There will be a live broadcast of NDP 2011 at all of these sites, allowing spectators to soak in the parade atmosphere.