2009 ASEAN Para Games

Host city

Originally scheduled for Laos in January 2010, the 2009 ASEAN Para Games was instead held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 15–19 August 2009, an unprecedented five months ahead of the 2009 Laos SEA Games with 409 events in 11 sports and disciplines featured in the games. Laos hosted the 2009 SEA Games later, but begged off from hosting the 5th ASEAN Para Games due to financial constraints and inexperience in providing disability-accessible venue adaptations for disabled athletes.

Development and preparation

The Kuala Lumpur Asean Para Games Organising Committee (KLAPGOC) was formed to oversee the staging of the event. In April 2009, the Meeting of the ASEAN Para Sports Federation board of governors decided on the type of sports to be contested at the Games. Initial entry forms were also released to the ASEAN National Paralympic Committees. The 2009 Para Games organiser Malaysian Paralympic Council then gave briefing to the ASEAN National Paralympic Committees in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. From April to May 2009, the 2nd entry forms based on entry by number and 5th ASEAN Para Games branding materials were sent to the ASEAN National Paralympic Committees. The National Paralympic Committees then submitted forms and sports with less than 4 nations participating were eliminated from the list of 11 sports. On 15 June, the actual number of athletes and officials attending the event were confirmed by the ASEAN National Paralympic Committees. From 28–30 June, all the Head of Missions of the 5th Asean Para Games met with the organisers in Kuala Lumpur.

Venues

The 5th ASEAN Para Games had 10 venues for the games. 8 in Kuala Lumpur and 1 each in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan respectively.

Public transport

Shuttle bus services, Rapid KL Buses were provided throughout the games and were used to ferry athletes and officials to and from the airport, games venues and games village.

Logo and mascot

The logo of the 2009 ASEAN Para Games is a heart shape image surrounded by ten doves which represents the ten ASEAN nations. The initial KL represents Kuala Lumpur, the host of the games and the capital of Malaysia. Whilst ’09 points to the year 2009, the heart shape in the ‘0’ portrays the loving, caring and warm hospitality of Malaysian people. The brush stroke that seems to revolve into a sphere portrays the unity and inspiration of the ASEAN Community, in their spirit and values, coming together as formidable "One Team" to make it happen in line with the Games Theme "Asean Moving Together". The 2009 ASEAN Para Games logo is mostly rehashed from the 2006 FESPIC Games logo, wherein Malaysian athletes performed beyond expectations during the 2006 event. Malaysia intends to replicate their success in 2009.

The mascot of the 2009 ASEAN Para Games is a chevrotain named, "Ujang". The chevrotain, commonly known as the mouse deer (locally known as pelanduk or kancil), is an animal native to Malaysia, Southeast Asia, India and Africa. A favourite in Malay folklore, "Sang Kancil" the mouse deer plays the same role as the wily fox of European fables, using intelligence, wit and cunning to escape dangerous enemies. The chevrotain epitomises the true Paralympic spirit with Paralympians have what it takes to face the challenges and overcome the odds. It also represents the strength, agility and quick thinking of the Paralympians athletes and leaders.

Opening ceremony

The opening ceremony was held on Thursday, 15 August 2009, beginning at 20:00 MST (UTC+8) at the Putra Indoor Stadium in Kuala Lumpur. The opening ceremony begins with the cultural performances by a troupe from Kuala Lumpur City Hall followed by a march past by the 10 contingents taking part in the games. After all the contingents took their respective places, former prime minister of Malaysia Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was given the honour to declare the meet open. This was followed by six Malaysian national paralympians, Abdullah Daud (swimming), Mohd Noor Isa (badminton), Norisah Bahrom (wheelchair tennis), Mohd Fazli Fauzil (athletics), Julius Jeranding (swimming) and Muira Mukri (chess) bringing in the Games flag before being presented to six Royal Malaysian Navy personnel to be hoisted. National paralympian Lee Seng Chow, a track and field athlete, then lead the gathered paralympians in taking the athletes' oath. This was followed by four national paralympians - Nadrul Shakir Nor Zainal (swimming), Marriappan Perumal (powerlifting), Siow Lee Chan (powerlifting) and Mohd Riduan Emeari (athletics) ushering in the Games torch before the cauldron was lit. Finally, a 120-strong gymnastics group from Soka Gakkai entertained the spectators to a gymnastic performance reflecting the spirit of unity, courage and harmony.

Closing ceremony

The closing ceremony was held on Monday, 19 August 2009, beginning at 20:00 MST (UTC+8) at the Putra Indoor Stadium in Kuala Lumpur. The closing ceremony begins with a series of song performance by local Malay singers. After the performance, the best sportsman and best sportswoman trophy were awarded to a swimming sportsman from Thailand and a swimming sportswoman from Vietnam respectively. This was followed by a speech from Dato' Zainal Abu Zarin, the president of the ASEAN Para Sports Federation. Representatives from Malaysia Book of Records then awarded certificate to the games committee to recognise the games as a smoking-free games. After that, Ahmad Shabery Cheek, then Malaysian Minister of Youth and Sports gave his speech and officially declared the games closed. The flag of the ASEAN Para Sports Federation was lowered by the six Royal Malaysian Navy personnel and the cauldron was extinguished. The ASEAN Para Games responsibilities was officially handed over to Indonesia, host of the 2011 ASEAN Para Games, where the Indonesia ambassador received the flag of the ASEAN Para Sports Federation as its symbolisation. The troupe from Kuala Lumpur City Hall, the same troupe who performed at the opening ceremony before, concluded the ceremony with a cultural performance.

Participating nations

Sports

With the late resolution on which nation would host the 2009 Para Games, the 5th Asean Para Games was finally officially launched mid-April 2009. Malaysia scrambled to put the Para Games together 5 months ahead of the SEA Games. Sports proposed for the Asean Para Games have been pruned down to fit the limited timeframe and budget, and hopefully with sponsorship support from the private sector. Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said at the pre-launch of the Asean Para Games at the Ministry of Youth and Sports Tower that the RM4 million allocation was approved by the cabinet to show the government's initiative to promote the sports for athletes with physical disabilities and that the ministry does not discriminate between sports for normal athletes and disabled athletes. He added that a number of sports could not be included due to a minimum requirement rule set by the Asean Para Sports Federation (APSF) that is, if a sport was to be included, at least four countries must participate.

The 11 sports competed were sanctioned by requisite world governing bodies. A total of 1,500 medals were contested.

Sailing debuted as a full medal sport in the 2009 ASEAN Para Games in Malaysia. The Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam and host Malaysia competed in two dinghy classes–the Access 2.3 and the Access Liberty, racing in the waters of Port Dickson, the same sailing event location of the FESPIC Games' final edition. Although a demonstration sport in the 2005 ASEAN Para Games last held in Manila, Philippines, Sailing was not included in the 4th ASEAN Para Games held in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand in 2008.

Medal table

A total of 936 medals comprising 409 gold medals, 288 silver medals and 239 bronze medals were awarded to athletes. The Host Malaysia's performance was their second best yet in ASEAN Para Games History and were second only to Thailand as overall champion.

  *   Host nation (Malaysia)