More than 4,000 people took part in dragon boating and kayaking races at Jurong Lake on Saturday and Sunday at the People's Association's (PA) PaddleFest 2014.

Formerly known as the PA Paddles Championship, the eighth edition of the event included new categories for dragon boating. They are the inter-generation race to promote family bonding, a para-venture race for special needs participants and the Jurong cluster fun race meant for Jurong residents.

Ms Maria Heng, a sports development officer at the Special Olympics Singapore. welcomed the new category for special needs participants. Said Ms Heng: "Competitions and events such as this are a good platform for our athletes to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and build friendship with the community."

PA's chief executive director Mr Ang Hak Seng, said the association will continue to develop programmes that promote and sustain inter-generational and inter-racial community bonding across generations and races.