ASEAN PARA GAMES 2022

Prof Teo-Koh Sock Miang, President, SNPC
Mr Low See Lien, Chef de Mission
Athletes, Officials,
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

1. Good morning. It is my pleasure to join all of you here today.

2. We are here, to acknowledge, recognise, and cheer on the Team Singapore para-athletes and officials who will be representing Singapore at the 11th APG in Solo, Indonesia in a few weeks' time.

3. First of all, allow me to thank the Tote Board and DBS, for their continued support of our athletes through the Athletes Achievement Award. We are all very excited to hear about the changes to the AAA monetary rewards, which Prof Teo-Koh just announced.

4. Recognising the para-athletes and their journey to the Solo 2022 ASEAN Para Games

5. It certainly has been a long wait since the last edition of the ASEAN Para Games (APG) in Kuala Lumpur.

6. For Solo 2022 APG, 16 para-athletes are making their APG debut, the youngest of whom are swimmers Janelle Tong (14), Jeremiah Liauw (15), and boccia's Aloysius Gan (15).

7. Janelle, Jeremiah, and Aloysius are heading into APG with good momentum. At the 2021 Asian Youth Para Games (AYPG) held in Bahrain last year,

   1. Janelle and Jeremiah both clocked their personal best, in the 100m Freestyle and 50m Butterfly events respectively, and,

   2. Aloysius won a Gold in the BC3 Men's Individual event, showing great mental fortitude to win a nail-biting tiebreak in the final.

8. This is the first time where we have a father and son team, and a pair of siblings, competing at the APG.

   1. Aloysius will be joined by his father Kagan, while sibling pair Sophie and Colin Soon are competing in swimming events.

      1. Sophie is a Paralympian, and Singapore's flagbearer at this APG.

      2. Colin has proven to us that one can clinch four AYPG Golds while studying for the 'O' levels.

   2. Prof Teo-Koh shared that she is looking forward to the kinship and “sibling rivalry” that will push and motivate our athletes to do even better.

   3. To the contingent as a whole, always remember that you are part of the Team Singapore family. I hope that you will use this experience to forge and deepen your bonds with each other, encourage each other and do your very best.

9. Most importantly, do know this: your fellow Singaporeans are behind you.

10. The last few years have been tough. Apart from COVID-19 disrupting training plans and cancelling several competitions,

    1. many of you have had to balance family commitments, school, and even illnesses towards your own unique road to Solo 2022 APG. Some of you have had to battle medical challenges.

       1. Archer Nur Syahidah Alim, our veteran Paralympian, was down with dengue fever and COVID-19 this past month, and

       2. Nicole Fu, our para swimmer, nursed a shoulder injury from January to March earlier this year.

    2. Yet, you remained single-minded, focused on your training and preparations, and geared up for the Games. This is truly admirable.

11. Enabling para-athletes through the Para Sport Academy

12. Allow me to share with you about the Para Sport Academy, which Minister Edwin Tong announced in Parliament during his Committee of Supply speech earlier this year.

13. This was launched by Sport Singapore in March this year to boost the development and promotion of para sports here.

    1. What it will do is to lower the barriers to entry, provide more resources for participants, and enlarge the talent base for para sports

    2. Equally, if not more importantly, para sports will empower our Persons with Disabilities and help strengthen confidence, as well as, self-esteem

14. I am happy to share an update that the Para Sport Academy has enrolled more than 130 participants across 6 different sports to date.

15. In the coming months, the Academy will offer programmes in other sports, including Wheelchair Rugby, Futsal (Blind Football), Para Badminton and Para Table Tennis.

16. The Para Sport Academy will also be:

    1. Training more new coaches, upskilling existing coaches, and establishing a coaches' Community of Practice,

    2. Deepening partnerships with entities such as National Disability Sports Associations (NDSAs) and MOE's Special Education (SPED) schools,

    3. Increasing volunteering opportunities for those who keen on supporting para sports, and

    4. Expanding the number of ActiveSG venues that offer Para Sport Academy programmes, making them more accessible.

17. Our aim is to enable more Persons with Disabilities to live more actively, and to tap on the efforts of our partners in the para sports sector to create more sporting opportunities.

18. The Singapore Disability Sports Council, with the support of our Singapore Sport Institute, will also identify and develop talented individuals who have potential to represent Singapore as national para-athletes at the Major Games.

19. Conclusion

20. In closing, allow me to say to

    1. I hope all of you draw inspiration from your predecessors – the trailblazers that came before you and, in turn,

    2. Write your own chapter, and treat your fellow competitors with respect and candour, while showing them how hard you have fought for the fruits of your labour.

21. I look forward to cheering all of you on in Solo, and wish you success at the ASEAN Para Games.