There comes a time when individuals, communities and nations come together to celebrate the triumph of the human spirit. DEFY EVERY LIMIT DEFY EVERY To challenge the status quo. To beat the odds, To rise to the occasion, And to defy limit after limit after limit. Different abilities. Same heart. This is the ASEAN Para Games CELEBRATING Singapore 2015. EXTRAORDINARY Celebrate the Extraordinary. PEOPLE CELEBRATING EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE EXTRAORDINARY CELEBRATING CONTENTS Message from the Minister 2 Message from the Chairman 6 CELEBRATING AS ONE 10 A Roaring Great Start 12 A Smashing Good Time 14 Getting a Kick Beyond Abilities 15 8,000 Hearts Rally as One 16 Getting into the Games 18 CELEBRATING GREATNESS 20 Inspiring Heroes 22 Enabling the Extraordinary 44 The Backbone of the Games 48 CELEBRATING UNFORGETTABLE MOMENTS 52 The Beginning of Something Big 54 Champions of Inspiration 58 Grit and Courage 62 Friendship Beyond Limits 66 Winning the Region Over 70 Closing on a Magnificent High 74 CELEBRATING A BETTER TOMORROW 78 Jumpstarting a Great Future 80 • Endless Para Sport Action 81 • A Complete APG Experience 82 • Powering the Future of Para Sport 84 Medals Galore 86 The Games in Numbers 88 Sponsors and Partners 90 Photo Credits 92 2 MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER 3 As first-time host of the Games, Singapore set out to create an inspiring experience for para athletes, officials and spectators. Ms Grace Fu, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, and Chairperson of the Singapore ASEAN Para Games Organising Committee, shares what she found extraordinary about the Games. 2015 was an exceptional year for sport in Singapore, the stunning goals from Team Singapore at the and the 8th ASEAN Para Games (APG) capped off a Cerebral Palsy (CP) Football matches, led by memorable year where we celebrated Singapore’s Khairul Anwar. golden jubilee. Enthusiastic fans from around the region As the host nation, we fielded our largest-ever created an electrifying atmosphere at every Team Singapore contingent with over 150 athletes, competition. The athletes responded by pushing almost triple our previous contingent size. The their limits to do well for their countries, but they Games brought out the Singapore spirit, with never forgot their sense of sportsmanship. For many Singaporeans and corporate sponsors example, I saw the Thai wheelchair basketball stepping forward to give resounding support for athletes helping Team Singapore players regain Team Singapore. balance after they had fallen over. Malaysian The athletes wowed us with their sporting swimmer Yeo Yi Lin collapsed moments before abilities, and moved us with their courage and her 400-metre freestyle event, but gathered her determination. Individuals like Singapore’s Yip Pin strength and finished the race. Medal or not, the Xiu defied all odds and broke a world record even athletes inspired us all with the strength of their The Games proved to be a truly uplifting experience for though she was swimming against competitors in fighting spirit. Minister Grace Fu and Team Nila volunteers. a higher classification event. And who can forget 4 MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER 5 “Together, we can look forward to a more inclusive society where persons of all Singaporeans of all ages turned up in full force to support Team Singapore athletes at the Games. abilities can realise Helping a fellow athlete – Beyond the fierce competition, there were many instances of their aspirations.” sportsmanship and camaraderie. Part of what made the 8th APG extraordinary It has been Singapore’s privilege and honour to was the warmth and exceptional service shown by host the 8th APG. I am confident that the Games will our volunteers and staff. Our APG volunteers, also catalyse the growth of para sport in Singapore and known as Team Nila, made a big difference to the around the region. Together, we can look forward to a experience of the Games. I met many athletes, officials more inclusive society where persons of all abilities can Gathered as one inclusive community to support para sports. and spectators who were full of praise for our tireless realise their aspirations. volunteers who went beyond the call of duty. On behalf of the Singapore ASEAN Para Games The APG is also about building friendships, Organising Committee, thank you all for making the across borders and cultures. I remember athletes and 8th APG a success. Till we meet again at the next Games! volunteers bursting into song and laughter during impromptu singing sessions at the Nila Suite. I hope the friendships forged during the Games will last for many years to come. Grace Fu Through the APG, we witnessed what it means to Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, and “Celebrate the Extraordinary”. These shared memories Chairperson of the Singapore ASEAN Para Games and experiences will last well beyond the Games. Organising Committee Team Singapore Cerebral Palsy Football Team feeling proud to Rain or shine, our 4,300 volunteers compete in front of the home crowd at the National Stadium. came together to lend a hand. 6 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN 7 Chairman of the Singapore ASEAN Para Games Organising Committee (SAPGOC) Mr Lim Teck Yin and his team delivered more than a spectacular sporting event. They went beyond to transform perceptions. It was all written on the faces of the just sporting excellence. It teaches spectators: awe, admiration, and joy. As everyone the enduring human spirit and they walked away from each competition, the heart to overcome challenges in sport the chatter would be about how amazed and in life. It serves to signal strongly our The APG team made every effort to bridge the gap between the able bodied and differently abled through a series of community events. they were at the abilities of the para aspirations for a more inclusive society, athletes, and how thrilling the sports and that beyond the Games, anyone with action was. For the para athletes, it was an a disability has access and the opportunity unforgettable feeling of affirmation to to live better through sport,” said Mr Lim. see the crowds coming together to This mission was reflected in the support them. theme “Celebrate the Extraordinary”. This was the exact response the In the 28th SEA Games, the theme was team behind the 8th ASEAN Para Games focused on inspiring individuals to achieve (APG) had been working towards for over their dreams. The 8th APG, on the other two and half years. From the executive hand, celebrated the extraordinary spirit committee to the workforce on the of the athletes, community, volunteers, ground, Mr Lim Teck Yin and his team had and workforce, who came together operated on the belief that in every doing, in solidarity for sport. And, from the there had to be a greater purpose. Games’ logo design to community events “It has been our privilege to organise surrounding the Games, the Organising the 8th APG. The APG is about more than Committee was tireless in ensuring that Events like the One Team Singapore Rally gave ample opportunities for people of different abilities to come together. Building a community of para sport advocates. 8 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN 9 “We have seen how the human spirit triumphs over all READY, adversity, and it has left an indelible SET, GOAL! mark in Singapore’s Singapore embarked on a three-pronged approach to achieve her goals of creating a jubilee year.” sense of ownership among Singaporeans, building inclusiveness in society, promoting para sport, and evoking national pride. this theme was embraced by all across some level of discomfort concerning Games as a source of strength. We knew • Evoking the human spirit in a world-class city the region. interactions with persons with disabilities.” that doing it well would go beyond just Singapore sought to create a first-class Games Undoubtedly, this was in itself an Understanding led to action. The executing a good Games, but imparting Deputy Chairman Kerk Kim Por taking on the task of engaging the public. experience not just in terms of organisational extraordinary task. But from Ceremonies team drew up a plan to bridge the gap an enduring legacy for para sport.” efficiency, but by creating human encounters & Functions to Logistics Management, between the able bodied and differently The response was positively that would touch hearts. This was done the executive committee was driven by a abled by getting people to celebrate the heartwarming. Many in the community through the Games Village experience, the shared mission. spirit of overcoming the odds. The result came forward in a show of resounding activities at the Singapore Sports Hub, and by Deputy Chairman of the Organising was a slew of community events such as support, either online or in person at offering excellent Games services. Committee Mr Kerk Kim Por explained, sport invitationals, Team Singapore para the competition venues and community “From the beginning, the core team athlete meet-and-greet sessions, and events. For Mr Lim, this was proof that • Developing Team Singapore and para sport was motivated by a larger vision for Gift-a-Nila programmes where the public Singapore and the region had indeed Singapore tripled the number of Team the Games – that the Games will be a sewed and decorated hearts onto Nila come closer to the goal of an inclusive Singapore athletes to 152 by developing sport catalyst for the movement to engage plush toys as a welcome gift for all para society that supports para sport and programmes for persons with disabilities, and our people about the value of sport; athletes at the Games. persons with disabilities. by creating public awareness for para sport. inspire them through the spirit and Apart from these, the team also “We have seen how the human spirit abilities of para athletes; and to uplift the sought to engage the larger audience triumphs over all adversity, and it has left • Creating strong partnerships participation in para sport.” beyond those at the competition venues.