MRT option shows people with disabilities ‘can be part of system’

SINGAPORE — Culture, Community and Youth Minister Grace Fu said yesterday (Oct 13) that giving ASEAN Para Games (APG) athletes the option to use public transport is a way to “show how Singapore can accommodate people with disabilities on our transportation system”.

Last week, The Straits Times reported that MRT trains would be the primary mode of transport for athletes and officials, prompting a public outcry with many people criticising the organisers on social media.

The Singapore ASEAN Para Games Organising Committee (SAPGOC) subsequently clarified that the MRT was one of the transport options, with shuttle buses and disabled-friendly vans also available for the athletes.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the APG’s 50-day countdown at Bendemeer Secondary School yesterday, Ms Fu said: “The stakeholders’ needs are varied so the approach taken by Sport Singapore, that we will basically give them the option (of taking the MRT), is a very good one.

“We will try all our best to make it as comfortable as possible for them. Their welfare is our biggest priority but it’s also for them to want to show that they can be part of our system.”

Veteran para swimmer Theresa Goh, who has competed in every edition of the APG since 2001, said she was surprised by Singaporeans’ concern, and the 28-year-old is hopeful that this will translate to interest in the national para athletes during the Games.

“I was quite surprised, in a good way, at how many people cared and I had a lot of friends texting me to check if it was true,” said Goh, who has never competed in a major Games at home.

“A lot of them started taking notice (of para athletes) and I hope that will grow and snowball into interest in the Games. This is a good chance to get people to see how hard we work, and that we deserve recognition.

“We don’t want pity, we want them to look at us equally, and that we are all training hard for the same goal.”