Champions of boccia, cycling and goalball community finals crowned at the closing ceremony of the Singapore National Para Games 2018
The Singapore National Para Games (SNPG) 2018 ended on a high note today at the Singapore Sports Hub with community finals held for 3 sports: boccia, cycling and goalball.
2018 marks the 13th year since SDSC first organised the National Disability League (NDL) to bring like-minded persons with disabilities (PWDs) together through local community competitions. Over the years, the league has transformed in tandem with the changing landscape in Singapore. From NDL to the SNPG, and then partnerships with GetActive Singapore campaigns and Singapore National Games, there has been encouraging participation from public agencies and the general public-at-large, who are increasingly embracing inclusiveness and equality.
This year, SDSC’s partnership with the Singapore National Games saw para events offered in 9 sports (archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, boccia, bowling, football, swimming, table-tennis) as part of the wide array of activities. For sports that were not integrated into the national campaign, such as cycling, equestrian, goalball, lawn bowls and shooting, SDSC partnered interest groups to build community capabilities for sustainable action.
To generate greater awareness of and support for para sports, a mini-festival was held, where members of the public took part in 7 different activities held at the Singapore Sports Hub and Kallang Wave Mall. The first 30 participants who complete all the tasks received a commemorative medal. Prizes were also given to participants who complete at least four activities under the ‘Talent Report Card’. Participants had to go through activities that include being blindfolded while navigating different obstacles in their path, bowling while seated to simulate wheelchair bowling, learning basic sign language and shooting at metal cans using toy guns.
Guest-of-Honour, champion Paralympian and Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) Ms Yip Pin Xiu and Executive Director of Haw Par Corporation Mr A.K. Han presented the prizes to the community finals winners.
Ms Yip was heartened by the presence of many Singaporeans at the event and encouraged more PWDs to take up sports. “I think SNPG provides opportunities for Singaporeans to have that experience of competition and the more competitions we have, the more the sport will grow. So I think that this is extremely important to create the right environment to promote para sports. I’m very thankful to all the volunteers, sponsors, SDSC and anybody who has supported para sports so far because without all of them, the event would not be as big as this year’s.”
SNPG 2018 was made possible thanks to the sponsorship of Haw Par Corporation, venue sponsor Kallang Wave Mall and supported by beverages sponsor MaxTea and Vico.