SINGAPORE - Health and fitness group Fitness First unveiled its 18-month sponsorship agreement with the Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC) on Tuesday to provide support for Singapore's para-athletes as they train for next year's 9th Asean Para Games in Kuala Lumpur.

Under the agreement, Fitness First will offer Passport memberships to 12 non-carded athletes and four officials on the SDSC's goalball team. These memberships allow the athletes access to all its clubs in Singapore and over 300 clubs overseas. The sponsorship is worth $35,000.

The goalball team will be able to use Fitness First clubs as venues to train, as well as use the facilities on their own or with the aid of a companion.

Goalball is a team sport designed for visually impaired athletes. Teams attempt to roll a ball with bells embedded in it into the opponents' goal.

Said Andrew Phillips, Managing Director at Fitness First Singapore: "We are committed to providing Singapore's para athlete community with a dedicated space to train , especially since they're competing as relatively new athletes and may not have the same funding and support as more established athletes."

Goalball team captain Marc Chiang said, "The Goalball team is grateful for Fitness First's support in giving us access to a dedicated space and a comprehensive range of modern equipment to train with.

"We're excited to start running drills and we also hope to raise awareness of para-sports among Singapore's fitness community."