Spotlight on Paralympics system

SINGAPORE : Does Singapore's success at the Paralympic Games in Beijing mean all systems are in place?

The country's historic first medal came from equestrian rider Laurentia Tan, who grew up and is based in the United Kingdom.

Would Laurentia have achieved what she did if she had stayed in Singapore?

She said: "(It is a) difficult question for me to answer, because I have never actually lived in Singapore. I spent most of my life in England."

Laurentia has come a long way from the time she picked up horse-riding for physiotherapy.

This was two years after she moved to the UK, at the age of three.

One thing led to another, after Laurentia did really well in a competition which she took part in just for fun.

Jannie Tan, Laurentia's mother, said: "In the UK, the opportunity for her to have competitions is much greater. The fact that she was living in England...I think she has had that opportunity to achieve as much as she has."

Britain took both the gold and silver medals in the events that Laurentia won bronze.

One thing that gives the UK's disabled sports scene an edge is a strong support network that includes volunteers, schools and clubs.

Athletes there, like Laurentia, enjoy generous moral and financial support, from both the public and private sector.

Eugene Lim, executive director, Riding for the Disabled Association of Singapore (RDA), said: "One great challenge that we always face each year is to get sufficient funding to undertake the programmes that we provide free of charge to all the disabled children. We hope we can draw more funds in now that there is greater awareness."

The RDA needs about S$1 million each year for its operating expenses. It could even be more, if not for its over 200 volunteers.

There is a growing call to tackle the misconceptions over the disabled, before everything can fall into place.

Jannie Tan said: "People need to be aware that disabled people can achieve what they are passionate about. Anybody - whether able or disabled - with the right support, can achieve what they set out to do."

While there is room for improvement, a milestone has been set, and this is likely to pave the way for more aspiring Paralympians.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/377343/1/.html

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Laurentia
• Tan
• Paralympics
• Singapore
• Challenges
• System
• RDA
• Riding
• for
• the
• disabled
• association
• Equestrian

[Hunterjumperz8]

What an inspiring story!

[pikkparis]

I help out there at the RDA! such a great place!