ASEAN Para Games to be held in S’pore for 1st time

SINGAPORE — The 8th ASEAN Para Games from Dec 3 to 9 will be hosted in Singapore for the first time, and organisers and participants hope it will be a turning point for para athletes competing in disability sports.

At an event announcing a partnership agreement with the Community Chest yesterday, Singapore ASEAN Para Games Organising Committee (SAPGOC) chairman Lim Teck Yin said he hopes the event will raise the awareness on disability sports and build an eco-system that support it.

The biennial event will be staged six months after Singapore hosts the SEA Games in June and SAPGOC is aiming to raise S$5 million through sponsorship to fund it.

“Obviously, the effort right now is largely focused on the SEA Games, and in the months ahead, there will be more to be said about our partners and sponsors,” said Lim.

“What we hope to achieve is, really, to raise everyone’s awareness on disability sports, and to collectively enhance opportunities, access and capabilities across the board to build an ecosystem where everyone has an opportunity to grow through (disability) sports.”

A study recently conducted by SAPGOC found that many people have the wrong perceptions what disability sports is all about, said SAPGOC deputy chairman Kerk Kim Poh. They perceived the APG to be “not as exciting”, that para-athletes are “not as well-known” and they feel “uncomfortable” watching the Games.

“We need to help our people appreciate what para-sports stand for,” said Kerk. “There is a barrier in people’s minds that we have to change and, hopefully, these Games can bring about a movement of change.”

Desmond Tong, who is aiming for gold in the archery and athletics competitions in December, said having the S$1.33-billion Sports Hub as the main venue for the Para Games will put para athletes in the spotlight.

“It will let everyone know that this group of people does exist, are as capable as normal people,and equally able to do the country proud,” said Tong. “I hope people show some empathy in terms of understanding, and provide some support and help to us.” Adelene Wong

Event: 8th ASEAN Para Games

Date: Dec 3 to 9, 2015

Opening ceremony: Singapore Indoor Stadium

Countdown activities: September to December

Games village: Marina Bay Sands

No. of sports: 15 (record number)

Medal events: 500

Athletes and officials: 3,000

Volunteers: 3,000

Potential audience: 600 million

S’pore’s showing in 2014: 7 gold, 10 silver, 10 bronze medals (7th out of 10 countries)

Largest edition of the Para Games: 2008 Thailand Para Games (11 countries, 14 sports, 1599 athletes)