Thousands cheer on Paralympians in celebratory bus parade
SINGAPORE – Chan Fui Lee cheered as an open-top bus carrying 10 Singapore Paralympians from the Paris Games drove past the bustling Orchard Road shopping area.
The 55-year-old housewife, whose 21-year-old daughter has a rare chromosome disorder and autism, understands the difficulties faced by individuals with disabilities.
“Singapore’s para-athletes put in tremendous effort despite their disabilities and challenges. We’re so proud of them,” she said.
Though her daughter’s severe health issues prevent her from becoming a para-athlete, Chan proudly brought her to support Team Singapore.
Excitement filled the air as the bus journeyed through four designated “cheer points” — Chinatown, Orchard Road, Serangoon Road, and Victoria Street — before returning to the Singapore Sports Hub.
Onboard were Yip Pin Xiu, Toh Wei Soong, and Sophie Soon (para-swimming); Diroy Noordin (para-athletics); Daniel Chan (para-shooting); Laurentia Tan, Gemma Foo, and Hilary Su (para-equestrian); Jeralyn Tan (boccia); and Nur Syahidah Alim (para-archery).
The athletes returned from Paris on September 10, after achieving Singapore’s best Paralympic showing with two golds and a silver.
At Orchard Road, where over 200 supporters gathered, swimmer Toh Wei Soong’s family stood out with a handmade red banner. His aunt, Jennifer Hu, proudly waved the banner as her nephew passed by.
Yip’s coach, Mick Massey, also joined the Orchard Road celebrations. Reflecting on Yip’s hard work, he said, “The preparation was intense. There’s a lot of pressure because of her previous victories. That’s something only the athlete, coach, and close supporters truly understand.”
Massey and Yip plan to take a break before preparing for the World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore in September 2025.
At Victoria Street, the last cheer point, around 60 supporters had gathered by 12:30 pm. Yip’s parents, Yip Chee Khiong and Margaret Yip, waited patiently to catch a glimpse of their daughter.
Margaret expressed her pride in celebrating her daughter’s achievement of putting Singapore on the map, saying, “My heart was racing during the Paris Games. I hope she stays happy, enjoys her sport, and remains healthy.”
Carolyn Sim and her husband had driven from Chinatown to Victoria Street to catch another glimpse of the Paralympians.
Sim, who volunteers with the boccia community at the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore, watched para-athlete Jeralyn Tan grow up. “It’s amazing to see how she and the team have developed,” she said.
Moved to tears while watching Tan compete, Sim emphasized the importance of representation and how national support can help para-athletes grow.