Cooperation key to success of Para Games, organisers say

Cooperation between the Asia-Pacific’s 42 national paralympics committees is vital for the success of the Incheon Asian Paralympics Games in Korea in October, organisers have said.

The movement’s regional body, the Asian Paralympic Committee, is holding briefings with key officials of National Paralympic Committees to foster closer relations. Following its most recent meeting with the NPC of Malaysia, APC President Dato Zainal Abu Zarin said solid synergies between the Asian governing body and its 42 affiliates were key to the successful staging of the Games.

Such moves were also part of APC’s significant efforts to enhance the development of Para sports in the region, he said, as well as striving towards the realisation of the Asian Paralympic Movement Vision 2020 (APM2020).

“APM2020 is only six years away, therefore we need to be focused in our efforts in all areas such as administration, technical, athletes’ development, funding, medical and science, sports management as well as branding,” Dato Zainal said.

“We need to work hand in hand in all areas with our affiliates in the regions of West Asia, Central Asia, South East Asia, East Asia and South Asia if we are to achieve APM2020.” 

The Malaysia briefing session also provided insights and progress on the preparation of the Incheon 2014 Asian Para Games as well as other APC-owned Games and Sport Championships.

The Incheon Games are scheduled from 18-24 October 2014, at which 23 sports – including four new sports – will be contested. Some 5,000 athletes and officials from more than 40 Asian nations are expected to participate in the Games that will be staged in various venues in the port city.

The ABU is a major media supporter of the Asian Paralympics movement and the Incheon Para Games.