Try playing football while wearing light-preventing goggles, or shooting an arrow while seated in a wheelchair. Perhaps it would then be easier to empathise with para athletes on the difficulties of playing their sports.

Members of the public can experience such challenges at the 12-day Asean Para Games (APG) carnival at the Singapore Sports Hub, which opened yesterday.

Organised by the Singapore Asean Para Games Organising Committee (Sapgoc), the carnival will feature 21 activities such as the modified versions of football and archery, as well as "Navigating on Wheels" where participants are required to complete a short obstacle course on wheelchairs.

Rohit Midha, 41, gave "blind" football a try by wearing the goggles. The bank executive said: "It was totally dark and I felt handicapped because I had no control over where I was going or aiming.

"I got a better sense of how it is like being disabled and how difficult it must be for them."

Educational booths are also set up at the carnival for the public to learn sign language in a fun and interactive manner.

Said Lee Huei Chern, Sapgoc's head of marketing, communications and engagement: "The carnival is a learning journey for all and we hope to promote a greater appreciation and understanding for people with disability."

The carnival is open until Dec 9 from 10am to 9pm. On Saturday (Dec 5), it will be open from 8am to 9pm.

Ticket sales for Thursday's APG Opening Ceremony have been picking up pace, with majority of the 2,000 seats available to the public being sold.

In addition, 50,000 spots for the APG Experience Tour - which allows individuals, schools and companies to experience the Games - have also been filled out.