MCCY Minister Fu: We will rally support

There have been concerns that December's ASEAN Para Games (APG) may not be as well received as the South-east Asia (SEA) Games in June.

While the likes of swimmer Joseph Schooling and bowler Jazreel Tan were already well-known figures even before the Games, Singaporeans generally know less about disability sports and para-athletes.

But the new Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu seemed confident that Singaporeans will turn up to support the APG from Dec 3-9.

"We definitely will go all out to rally the support and I think Singaporeans have shown over the last year how big-spirited they are and how much they feel about Singapore athletes," she said, at the sidelines of an APG roadshow at Bendemeer Secondary yesterday morning to mark today's 50-day countdown to the Games.

"This will be a great opportunity (for Singaporeans) to showcase the generosity of both welcoming the athletes and also showing the support for Singapore athletes."

Students of the school saw the premiere of the new music video for the song "Unbreakable", which was used at the SEA Games. The new video features athletes such as shuttler Tay Wei Ming, sailor Jovin Tan and swimmer Theresa Goh.

Some students also took part in the "Gift-a-NILA" initiative, where they sewed and decorated heart-shaped mini-cushions, which will be stitched onto Nila plush toys and given to all APG athletes and officials.

Also, some 80 schools have applied for and received "Get RED-Y" kits, which include Team Singapore temporary tattoos, and cheer cards for their students to write their well-wishes to athletes.

POSTERS

In addition, 15 Team Singapore athletes - one from each APG sport - will be featured in posters, which will be put up at MRT stations, bus stops, and plastered on trains, taxis and buses.

"I think we are doing all we can do to reach out, market the event, raise awareness, and make it accessible," said Games organising chairman Lim Teck Yin yesterday.

"We are going the extra step to organise programmes for people who want to come to the Games as part of an organised group.

"Under ActiveSG, we are reaching out to companies and some of them want to activate their CSR (corporate social responsibility) programmes during the Para Games.

"We are doing all that we can do. I hope Singaporeans will respond."

Shuttler Tay, 27, is already feeling the buzz from all the outreach programmes, and will feature in the "Unbreakable" video as well as in posters around the island.

"I am really looking forward, it's my first time appearing on buses and MRT trains... I've been to the World Championships and the publicity for APG is more because it's closer to home," said Tay, who claimed the bronze in both the men's singles and doubles at the 2013 Para Badminton World Championships in Germany.

"My parents have not seen me play a competitive match in person before, because my competitions have always been overseas, and I will feel very proud to have them come see me during the APG in December."

This article was first published on October 14, 2015.
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