APG’s many helping hands

He was courtside at the Indoor Stadium as Singapore faced off against Thailand in ASEAN Para Games (APG) wheelchair basketball on Sunday night, weaving his wheelchair while firing off shot after shot on his digital camera. While Edwin Koh was not competing at the APG, the volunteer photographer — along with national para equestrian athlete Maximillian Tan and Manokaran Narayanasamy — still did their bit to help make the Games an enjoyable experience for all.

The trio were part of the 4,000-strong Team Nila volunteer workforce out in force during the Dec 3 -9 APG, working in a variety of roles. These include athlete assistance, competition officiating, corporate communications, games services and community engagement.

TODAY’s Low Lin Fhoong (linfhoong [at] mediacorp.com.sg) spoke to the three Singaporeans about their roles and experiences at the APG.

Edwin Koh, 37, volunteer photographer

An avid sportsman in his younger days, Koh had to give up basketball, swimming and football after he was diagnosed with spinocerebellar atrophy — a progressive, degenerative disease that affects coordination, speech and eye movements — before National Service.

The 37-year-old has since discovered a love for sports photography. His first stint as a volunteer photographer was during the South-east Asian Games in June, and he was usually found courtside at wheelchair basketball during the APG.

“It was very challenging because basketball has a lot of dramatic and fast action,” said the wheelchair-bound Koh.

“I love to watch sports, and I’m happy I got to experience the APG. Watching the players was really inspiring when I saw how they fell and got up on their wheelchairs, as that took a lot of strength.”

Like many of the APG athletes he photographs, Koh has set his sights on a bigger target next year: The Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

“After this, I hope they will sponsor me for next year’s Paralympic Games. I really want to shoot (Chapman colleague) Jovin (Tan), and experience other sports and meet other athletes,” he said.

Maximillian Tan, 28, games services officer

He is usually found astride his horse, Don’s Daydream, at training in Germany and competitions overseas. But this APG, Tan — who has cerebral palsy — was located behind the information counter of the Games Village at Marina Bay Sands, helping visitors and athletes with their queries.

The national para equestrian athlete and his father, David Tan (with Maximillian in picture) — who is his caregiver — had decided to sign on as APG volunteers as his sport was not part of the 15-sport roster for the Games.

The elder Tan served as an assistant venue services manager at the Games Village.

“This year is an SG50 year and my dad and I thought the best way to be a part of the celebrations was to volunteer for the SEA Games or APG. But I couldn’t volunteer for SEA Games as I was overseas for competitions to qualify for the Paralympics,” said Tan, a full-time athlete.

“Unfortunately, my sport was not included in the APG, so the next best way was to be a volunteer … I could get close to the atmosphere and action.”

He was able to catch friends and team-mates Theresa Goh and Yip Pin Xiu in action in the swimming pool, and other sports such as boccia and athletics.

“Volunteering is, in a way, like supporting Team Singapore and, beyond the athletes, I’m also spreading awareness about people with disabilities,” added Tan.

Manokaran Narayanasamy, 53, assistant venue manager

During Games time, Narayanasamy was usually found zipping about the Games Village on his motorised wheelchair, chatting with athletes and officials at the Nila Suite and helping them with their queries.

Aside from his role as an assistant venue service manager, he also helped conduct workshops to train APG volunteers and help them understand more about people with disabilities.

A former marathon runner, Narayanasamy was struck with transverse myelitis nine years ago that left him paralysed from the chest down. Transverse myelitis is a neurological condition that causes inflammation of the spinal cord.

But that has not stopped him from starting social enterprise Dignitas SG to spread disability awareness, and volunteering at the APG.

The 53-year-old has enjoyed his stint at the APG. “I’m helping out, and in return I’m learning about the para athletes,” he said. “Just to see athletes from Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos who are economically behind us … but the attitude they have is far ahead of us. I saw one girl play foosball with her feet (in the Games Village) ... having a physical disability doesn’t mean the end of your aspirations. I am very impressed by that.”