ASEAN COUNTRIES URGED TO RECOGNISE ASEAN PARA GAMES

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 20 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Paralympic Council hopes
Asean countries will recognise the disabled athletic meet, the Asean Para Games
as important as the SEA Games in the true Asean spirit.

Its president, Zainal Abu Zarin said the Asean Para Sports Federation(ASPF)
would have to shoulder the challenge to strive for the true meaning of the Asean
Para Games.

"The true Asean spirit can be further enhanced through the participation of
paralympians in the Asean Para Games just as the able bodied athletes in the SEA
Games," he said at the closing ceremony of the fifth Asean Para Games (KL'09) at
Stadium Putra Bukit Jalil here Wednesday.

He said participation in Asean Para Games should not merely for formality
sake.

Zainal, who is also APSF president, said he hoped the next Asean Para Games
in Indonesia in 2011 (Jakarta 2011) would be sanctioned by the International
Paralympic Sports Federation.

"This will add value and marks a new milestone for the Asean Para Games," he
said, adding that the APSF would do its best to make Jakarta 2011 a qualifying
event for the London Paralympic Games in 2012.

Only swimming, athletics and powerlifting out of 11 sports in KL'09 were
sanctioned by the International Paralympic Council.
-- BERNAMA