ASEAN Youth Para Games plans laid
Plans are being laid for a competitive multi-sport international Para Games for young athletes with disabilities in the ASEAN region.
The Games, to be called the Asean Youth Para Games, would provide platforms for talented 13 to 19 year-olds to shine in an international competitive sporting environment, according to Asean Para Sports Federation President Dato Zainal Abu Zarin.
He said with the successful staging of the Asean Para Games in Myanmar, the time was right for young para talents to be given a proper avenue to compete at the highest level.
“Since its inception in 2001 in Kuala Lumpur, the Asean Para Games has certainly help push forward the Paralympic agenda in this region to higher levels and unearth many talented people who have now done well internationally,” Dato Zainal said.
“We are embarking on a new approach as the next five years will see the organisation of various major events, namely the Asian Para Games in Incheon in October 2014, 8th Asean Para Games in December 2015, the Rio Paralympic Games in 2016, the 2017 Asean Para Games in Kuala Lumpur and the 2019 Asean Para Games in Brunei.”
Dato Zainal also praised the organisation of the Asean Para Games in Myanmar, saying that it had been well organised and had left legacies and a positive impact on the development of Para sports and the movement in the country.
The joint secretary of the Naypyidaw Asean Para Games Organising Committee, Major General Nay Lin, said the successful organisation of the Games would help Myanmar fulfil its agenda on equality in sports and life in the country.
“We’ve taken great efforts in ensuring that this Games would receive due recognition from the Government as it would help us to further develop para sports in the country to higher levels,” said Maj Gen Nay Lin.
Also present was Associate Prof Mohan Menon, Chairman of the Singapore National Paralympic Council, who will host the 8th Asean Para Games in Singapore in December 2015.
ABU and the Asian Paralympic Committee have partnered to enhance the broadcasting of Paralympic events in the Asia-Pacific and to help increase awareness of Paralympic sports and events amongst television audiences in the region.