Singapore 2006
Pico had participated in major past events such as the 117th IOC Session, 2006 Commonwealth Games and the 2004 Summer Olympics.
[5] The main venue, Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, received a facelift with an upgraded lobby, entrance and a facade which was lighted at night.
100,000 flowers and shrubs were used to beautify the landscape around the area as well as other parts of the island, including Orchard Road, Suntec's vicinity as well as the East Coast Parkway.
A campaign known as Four Million Smiles was launched in July 2006 by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to prepare the service sector for the event.
[citation needed] Officers from the Gurkha Contingent and the Key Installation Protection Unit were deployed to patrol the vicinity and at entrances to barricaded areas.
[citation needed] A security office was temporarily constructed at the main entrance of Suntec City Mall with metal detectors and x-ray machines.
[citation needed] Road closures in the vicinity of event venues came into effect on the night of 10 September 2006, with police presence increased substantially within SICEC and in adjoining hotels.
[citation needed] Reportedly, approximately 200 to 300 technical and maintenance crew members at SICEC were unable to access their workplaces due to issues with entry passes.
On 15 September, the United Kingdom's group of delegates arrived in Singapore, including Chancellor of the Exchequer as well as chairman of the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) Gordon Brown and Mervyn King, the Governor of the Bank of England.
[17] 161 speakers discussed topics included economic growth, the future of China and India, regional issues and faster economic growth of the Pacific Islands, ageing population in Asia, petrol prices, preventing a financial crisis, oil trade, poverty, trade agreements and other Asian issues.
[citation needed] Several African finance ministers, Gordon Brown, and de Rato held press conferences at SSICEC.
[citation needed] The World Bank announced that they will provide a US$15 million grant to combat bird flu in Indonesia.
[citation needed] The IMF approved a plan to give more powers and voting rights to China, Mexico, South Korea and Turkey, with 90.6% support.
[20] Plenary sessions commenced on 20 September with an opening ceremony hosted by Goh Chok Tong at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay.
[21] The IMF and World Bank heads agreed on the need for systematic reform to empower developing countries.
The IMF and World Bank stated that they had secured permission for accredited activists and protestors to attend the meetings, and they considered this denial a breach of that agreement.
[34] The One Campaign in Singapore produced videos about world poverty and anticipated playing them at screens at the convention centre.
[35] Thirty people from Global Call to Action Against Poverty wore white t-shirts and gags with "no voice" written on them during a protest on 15 September.
[40] To circumvent the Singaporean ban, approximately 1,000 delegates from various organisations planned to hold outdoor demonstrations from 11–18 September in Batam, Indonesia.
[42] On 11 September, Indonesian police granted a permit for a three-day indoor forum in Batam, but refused to allow outdoor demonstrations.
[43] A survey amongst delegates found a high satisfaction level with regards to the efficiency of event organisation, and of Singapore as a whole.
