To celebrate 50 years of national service, a 100-strong flag contingent of operationally ready national servicemen and runners from Special Olympics Singapore took part in the 22nd edition of the HomeTeam NS Real Run yesterday. The 14 Special Olympics athletes, who have intellectual disabilities, were each paired with a HomeTeam NS runner during the 5km and 10km runs. HomeTeam NS, a non-profit association, brings together NSmen from the Singapore Police Force and Singapore Civil Defence Force. The run, which drew 5,000 runners, saw participants race along Coney Island's nature trail and Punggol Waterway Park's urban landscape trail for the first time. It was flagged off by both the flag parade contingent and HomeTeam NS president Desmond Lee, who is also Minister for Social and Family Development and Second Minister for National Development.