Singapore trains to be in fighting shape for Davos 2021

MMA events and concerts serve as warm-up for COVID-era World Economic Forum

20201229N Singapore Marina Bay Sands

Exercising on the waterfront near Singapore's Marina Bay Sands resort: The Asian destination is trying to revive its conference industry while preventing international gatherings from becoming COVID-19 superspreader events. © Getty Images

TAKASHI NAKANO, Nikkei staff writer

SINGAPORE -- Mixed martial arts may be far from the rarefied air of Davos, but fights are one way that Singapore is preparing to host the world's leading business and political figures next May.

While the roar of the crowd was gone -- only 250 people watched in an arena that seats 12,000 -- the Dec. 18 matches hosted by One Championship gathered fighters from countries including Japan, Thailand and Russia.

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