Team Singapore journey to the Asian Games and Para Games

Close to 300 Team Singapore athletes and officials attended a recent gathering for a flag presentation ceremony to commemorate their journey towards inspiring the nation at the Asian Games and the Asian Para Games.

Set to open tomorrow (Friday 19th September) in Incheon, South Korea, the 2014 Games, officially known as the XVII Asiad, run until 4th October. They will feature 439 events in 36 sports staged across 49 competition venues and 48 training facilities.

Singapore will be fielding a contingent of 227 athletes to compete in 20 sports, led by Chef De Mission (CDM) Jessie Phua.

Phua explains “participating in international competitions can be a very stressful experience. After years of training, and much blood, sweat and tears, this can be said to be the moment of truth for our athletes.

“We have in our midst, sporting ambassadors who are prepared to do their best and do Singapore proud.

“In times like these, the strong support of family, friends and fellow Singaporeans can help to share the athlete’s burden, so as to bring out the champion inside of them.

“I look forward to leading them to deliver inspirational performances that will do the nation proud."

Singapore will also be sending a team of 53 athletes to compete in 11 sports at the 2014 Asian Para Games taking place from 18th to 24th October 2014.

The city state has also just staged the inaugural Singapore Swim Stars at the OCBC Aquatic Centre – part of the Singapore Sports Hub.

Attracting some of the world's best swimmers and strong crowds, the event experienced a number of behind the scenes problems with broadcasters unable to call races, swimmers unsure of which times and lane related to them, announcers in the pool unable to call races in the confusion and starts so poorly orchestrated that half of the line-up of the 100 metre butterfly for women in the water before the other half.

17th SEPTEMBER 2014 - ATHLETES GATHER IN SOUTH KOREA FOR ASIAN GAMES

9th SEPTEMBER 2014 - SINGAPORE SPORTS HUB THE CENTREPIECE OF NATIONAL DAY CELEBRATIONS