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  Today Online 30 Nov 06
Eighth Wonder raises bid
 It raises investment to $5.6b for Sentosa IR, plans $130m aquarium
Tor Ching Li chingli@mediacorp.com.sg

SENTOSA contender Eighth Wonder raised its bid to $5.6 billion after its chairman Mark Advent decided to throw in a $130 million aquarium into the ring at the 11th hour.

At its fourth consecutive press conference in as many days, Mr Advent said: "We've just decided from a business perspective that, should we be fortunate to be chosen for the Sentosa integrated resort (IR), Singapore deserves a second-to-none aquarium called The Singapore Aquarium."

While the aquarium was already a component in the man-made caldera, Mr Advent said that an additional $130 million will be needed to bring it to fruition.

When asked to clarify if this meant the bidder is submitting a higher bid for the government's consideration, an Eighth Wonder spokeswoman said the previously stated bidding sum of $5.5 billion still stands.

At the briefing yesterday, Mr Advent also threw in other new numbers: A $480-million campaign to produce and market a Hollywood film based on fictional character Harry O'Brien, and a US$25-million ($38.7-million) treasure hunt and reality TV series.

These film-related investments, though, are separate from the $5.6-billion bid. The movie will be produced and distributed by Hollywood's New Regency Productions, said Mr Advent. In fact, the Government has already been given copies of the screen treatment.

Accompanying the film will be the treasure hunt on the proposed Harry's Island, with a prize of US$25 million. Clues will be hidden in the movie, as well as in eight clue books to be written by fantasy role playing game Dungeons and Dragons creator Gary Gygax.

A reality TV series will be shown, featuring the finalists in the treasure hunt on Harry's Island.

With its earlier $5.5 billion bid, Eighth Wonder is already in the lead in terms of investment amount--which takes up 20 per cent of the evaluation criteria.

Kerzner-CapitaLand and Genting have proposed $5.28 billion and $5.2 billion respectively.

Over at the Kerzner camp, details of its Aquaventure family attraction were unveiled yesterday. With 14 rides spread over four main areas--the Squid Tower Slide Complex, River Rides, Crab Playground and Spectacular fish habitats--spanning the size of nine football fields, Aquaventure can accommodate over 5,000 people at one time.

Each area caters to specific age groups. In one of the rides, the South Seas Challenge, two racing slides on opposite tentacles of the Squid Tower will allow visitors to compete side by side down the slide. Electronic gates and timers will display the race timings. Other rides include a 70-m free-fall body slide at a 60 degrees incline with drop speeds of up to 50km an hour, and group rides of up to six in a river raft. Special effects will also be incorporated into the rides to create illusions of fire, shark attacks and other thrills.

The winner will be crowned early next month, possibly next Friday.
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