Raising ASEAN Para Games buzz a priority

SINGAPORE — Raising the profile of disability sports in Singapore will be a key priority for organisers of the 8th ASEAN Para Games, which Singapore will host for the first time later this year.

But Singapore ASEAN Para Games Organising Committee (SAPGOC) chairman Lim Teck Yin acknowledged that unlike the recent SEA Games, which the Republic hosted, promoting the Para Games is expected to pose a different challenge, given that it traditionally does not enjoy the same level of interest.

Today (July 7), Deloitte was unveiled as the first sponsor of this year’s Para Games, which will be held in Singa­pore from Dec 3 to 9.

The deal, which is worth more than S$500,000, will see the auditing and financial consultancy firm contribute cash and professional services to the running of the meet.

“We recognise the ASEAN Para Games are unlike the SEA Games in terms of their requirements, because people will receive the Para Games in a slightly different way,” said Lim.

“At the SEA Games, (we tried to) rally people around sports, even (those who are) not sports enthusiasts. In that light, we created channels for people from different segments of people to play a part. But at the Para Games, we need to raise awareness about the sports that will be played, because many people in Singapore are not familiar with many of them.

“This is why we need to educate people about the Games and we’ve got to find the same basic concept of reaching different segments (of people) through different means.”

Philip Yuen, chief executive officer of Deloitte Singapore, added: “One of the objectives of having the Para Games here is to raise the profile of the sport in the country. Our marketing and creative support team will be supporting the Games on various ideas to help the event. We recognise there is a need for that at the Games and that is why we put our hands up.”

About 3,000 athletes and officials from at least 10 South-east Asian countries — East Timor have not confirmed their participation — will take part in 15 sports, the most to date at the biennial meet, which was first held in Kuala Lumpur in 2001. Most of the events will be held at the Sports Hub and Marina Bay Sands.

Hosts Singapore are expected to field their largest contingent at the Games, with about 100 athletes.

Indonesia topped the medal standings at last year’s ASEAN Para Games with 99 gold, 69 silver and 49 bronze, followed by Thailand (96-82-70) and Malaysia (50-49-40). Singa­pore finished seventh with seven gold, 10 silver and 10 bronze medals.

In April, SAPGOC announced that it aimed to secure S$5 million for sponsorship of the Para Games. But Lim stressed that dollars and cents were not the only way that corporate organisations could support the Games. “The spirit of the ASEAN Para Games is not about how much you bring to the table, but how many people you bring to the table,” he said.

“Our message to everyone is to get involved, not just with their resources, but by also coming at the year-end to cheer and help us create an event that will inspire the Singapore spirit.”