Nations participating 11 Opening ceremony 21 December 2003 Athlete's Oath Vu Van Xoan | Events 287 in 5 sports Closing ceremony 27 December 2003 | |
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Motto Peace, Love and Aspire. | ||
The 2003 ASEAN Para Games, officially known as the 2nd ASEAN Para Games, was a multi-sport event held after the 2003 Southeast Asian Games for athletes with physical disabilities in Hanoi, Vietnam from 21 December 2003 to 27 December 2003 with 287 events in 5 sports and disciplines featured in the games. This was the first time Vietnam host the Southeast Asian games and also its first as host of the ASEAN Para Games.
Contents
Vietnam is the second country to host the ASEAN Para Games after Malaysia. Participants of the games came from 11 countries in Southeast Asia. The games, like the previously held 2001 ASEAN Para Games, patterned after the Paralympics, included athletes with mobility disabilities, amputees, visual disabilities and those with cerebral palsy. Notably, Timor Leste was formally included in the Games, increasing its member countries to eleven.
The final medal tally was led by Thailand, followed by host Vietnam and Malaysia. Several Asian, Games and National records were broken during the games. The games were generally a successful one held by Vietnam yet, which saw the rising standards of disabled sports competition amongst the Southeast Asian nations.
Venues
The 2nd ASEAN Para Games had 2 venues for the games.
Logo and mascot
The emblem of the 2nd ASEAN Para Games is portrayed by a styled image of an athlete, sitting in a wheelchair with two hands raised up upwards in the shape of a "V" which symbolizes for Vietnam and victory. At the top of the emblem are 11 small circles linked together in a sketch of a "Khue Van Cac" (room for reciting poems), which showed solidarity, cooperation, and friendship of disabled athletes among 11 countries in the South East Asian region. The athletes and Khue Van Cac painting are dark sea blue, represents unity and 11 circles are vermilion, represents bravery.
The Mascot of the 2003 ASEAN Para Games is the "The Golden Goat" which was designed by Nguyen The Nguyen and selected by the Organizing Committee because the year 2003, year of which Vietnam hosting the second ASEAN Para Games is a goat year in most lunar calendars, especially in Vietnamese and Chinese culture. The goat image is widely described in many art and literary works of the Vietnam nation as a very intimate, friendly and useful animal to the people in daily life. The Golden Goat symbolizes the feeling of happiness of victory when overcoming destiny, by integrating the said value into the community. Wearing the sports costume, with its left hand on its waist, and the right one with two fingers stretching out in a "V" shape, it represents strong belief in sports fair-play among athletes to reach highest achievements in the 2nd ASEAN Para Games.
Songs
The theme song of the 2003 ASEAN Para Games is "Welcome to Para Games-Hanoi".
Opening Ceremony
On the evening of 21 December, the games were fomally opened with parade of nations led by military band took place at the My Dinh National Stadium. Three athletes, Tran Nguyen Thai, Trinh Cong Luan and Pham Thi Thu Thanh ignited the torch that night. Vu Van Xoan take the athletes' oath whereas, Duong Duc Thuy take the referees' oath. The opening ceremony was divided into five chapters namely, Chapter 1: Genesis, Chapter 2: Challenges and Stormy, Chapter 3: The strength of the heart - Hello brother, Chapter 4: Our Aspirations and Chapter 5: In great joy.
Closing Ceremony
On the evening of 27 December, the games were formally closed with hosting rights handed over to Philippines, host of the 2005 ASEAN Para Games at the Hanoi Sports Palace.
Sports
5 Sports are introduced for the 2003 ASEAN Para Games with 4 of them are Paralympics events.
Medal table
A total of 760 medals comprising 287 gold medals, 245 silver medals and 228 bronze medals were awarded to athletes. The Host Vietnam's performance was their best ever yet in ASEAN Para Games History and were second only to Thailand as overall champion.
* Host nation (Vietnam)