User:Imbluey2/Antarctica 2000 expedition

The Antarctica 2000 expedition was a Singaporean expedition to Antarctica as a part of Singapore's millenium celebrations

Imbluey2/Antarctica 2000 expedition

Sponsor	NTUC, Asia Brewerz
Country	Singapore
Start	Singapore March 12, 1999 (1999-03-12)
End	The South Pole, Vinson Massif
Goal	To plant the Singapore Flag on Mount Vinson and the South Pole by 1 January 2000
Crew	9

Organisation

Background

In June 1998, the 1st Singapore Mount Everest Expedition team returned to Singapore. A month later, Khoo Swee Chiow of the Everest expedition sat down with five other members and discussed on the next expedition. They wanted to do achieve something for Singapore by 1 January 2000 and decided on an expedition to Antarctica. the idea for an expedition to Antarctica was initiated by Robert Goh, and Mok Ying Jang.They planned to form two teams: one would scale Mount Vinson (the highest peak on Antarctica) and the other would attempt to trek to the South Pole by foot.

Mount Vinson, the tallest peak in Antarctica

Both of the team's goals were to plant the Singapore flag at both locations by 1 January 2000 as part of Singapore's millenium celebrations.

Preparation

Both teams went through extensive training programmes in order to prepare for the harsh conditions of the Antarctic. To prepare for the anticipated temperatures of −60 °C (−76 °F) and wind speeds of up to 300 kilometres per hour (190 mph), the Antarctica 2000 team stayed in cold rooms at −20 °C (−4 °F) in their expedition gear. Since they were expected to burn many calories when trekking, all members had to put on weight by eating, with the South Pole team particularly having to gain more weight as they had to haul heavy sleights.

Each member of the South Pole team was expected to haul a 100 kilograms (220 lb) sleight containing food, clothing, and equipment. To do so, they pulled rubber tyres filled with sand, bricks, and bottles for three times a week in East Coast Park. Meanwhile, the Mount Vinson team trekked Bukit Timah Hill and climbed tall buildings whilst carrying fully loaded backpacks.

The South Pole team went to Greenland in May 1999 to practice their sleight loading and terrain trekking skill as well as learning rescue techniques from British consultant Roger Mear. At the same month, the Vinson team went to Chamonix, France to practice scaling mountains.

Members

In January 1999, the team had 11 members, seven of them formerly a part of the Everest Expedition. Then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong suggested including women in the expedition. Two women were added to the Vinson team, resulting in two six-member preliminary teams. When the training ended,

Sponsors

In January 1999, it was expected for the expedition to cost between S$600,000 (US$353,991.35) to S$1 million (US$589,985.58). During the same month, the National Youth Council, Singapore Sports Council, National Geographic Channel, and NTUC income pledged S$350,000 (US$206,494.95) in total.

The expedition

Launch

The expedition was launched on 12 March 1999 with then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong as the guest-of-honor. Goh declared the expedition to be a “manifestation of the indomitable spirit of the people in Singapore”.

South Pole Team

The South Pole Team departed from Changi Airport to Punta Arenas, Chile, on 14 October 1999 with 100 supporters cheering them on, including 20 cheerleaders from NTUC income.

External links

• Infopedia article
• Official website (as of 9 April 2001)