Celebratory parade to be held for Singapore's Paralympic heroes

Eleven of Team Singapore's Paralympians, including medallists Yip Pin Xiu and Theresa Goh, will be waving to crowds in a celebratory parade from Sengkang Sports Centre to VivoCity tomorrow.
Eleven of Team Singapore's Paralympians, including medallists Yip Pin Xiu and Theresa Goh, will be waving to crowds in a celebratory parade from Sengkang Sports Centre to VivoCity tomorrow. ST PHOTO: LAU FOOK KONG

A convoy of Ferraris will be the centre of attention on the roads from Sengkang Sports Centre to VivoCity tomorrow morning for a celebratory parade for Team Singapore's Paralympians.

Eleven para-athletes, including medallists Yip Pin Xiu and Theresa Goh, and Rio Paralympics chef de mission Ho Cheng Kwee, will be waving to crowds of well-wishers from the supercars.

Boccia players Nurulasyiqah Taha and Toh Sze Ning will be driven in a more spacious London cab as their mobility is more restricted.

Tomorrow's parade will celebrate Singapore's best-ever showing at the Paralympics in Rio, where swimmers Yip and Goh won two golds and a bronze respectively.

Starting at 9am at Sengkang Sports Centre, Minister of State for Health Dr Lam Pin Min will deliver a congratulatory message.

The convoy will then pass Sengkang Community Centre, Hougang Sports Centre, Braddell Heights Community Centre, Blocks 43 and 44 at Bendemeer Road and Bugis Junction before arriving at their second pit stop at the National Library at 11.15am.

The Paralympians will be greeted by Minister for Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim and Central Singapore District Mayor Denise Phua.

The Provost of the Singapore Management University will give an appreciation speech, while Pathlight School students will be presenting tokens of appreciation to the para-athletes.

The convoy will then pass the Pinnacle@Duxton before arriving at the final stop at VivoCity at 1.30pm, where they will be received by Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu.

Among those who will be packing VivoCity are manager Christine Chen, 50, and her family, including her 14-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter.

She said: "I want to be there to show my support for them. I hope to prepare something to give to them that is simple yet special and that they can keep for a long time."

Correction note: An earlier version of the article said that the president of the Singapore Management University's Students' Association will give an appreciation speech. This is incorrect. The Provost of the university will be giving the speech.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on September 23, 2016, with the headline Celebratory parade to be held for Singapore's Paralympic heroes. Subscribe