Borneo Motors (Singapore) held its first Para Swimming Dialogue at the Athlete Services Centretogether with Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC) earlier today, in a joint effort to bring to light the potential opportunities that persons with disabilities (PWDs) can achieve through para sports.
Led by aspiring Paralympic swimmer and Toyota ’Start Your Impossible’ (SYI) Hero athlete Toh Wei Soong, alongside fellow para swimmer Wong Zhi Wei and Ferin Fu, parent of para swimmer Nicole Fu, the session saw an exchange with 20 aspiring para swimmers. Wei Soong and Zhi Wei shared at length about their respective swimming journeys while Ferin provided a parent’s perspective on providing familial support to a child involved in para sports.
As part of its ongoing pursuit of “Mobility for All”, Toyota believes that the freedom of being mobile is at the heart of being able to participate in society. The automaker is the first ever mobility partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Movement.
Sharing his thoughts about the initiative, Wei Soong said, “I’ve always wanted to inspire youth with impairments to pick up sports and chase their dreams. I am thankful to work closely with Toyota and the Singapore Disability Sports Council to be given a platform to engage youth. Together with the rest of the para sports community, I am certain that we will see the next generation of para athletes rise up and chase their dreams”.
Here in Singapore, Toyota, along with its official distributor Borneo Motors (Singapore), has partnered with celebrated athletes Toh Wei Soong and Joseph Schooling to champion their hero projects of ‘Equality of Opportunity’ and ‘Road Safety’ respectively. Wei Soong has since been working with SDSC on their ongoing school outreach programmes.
Mr Samuel Yong, Director of Marketing and Business Strategy at Borneo Motors (Singapore) said, “At Borneo Motors Singapore, we view equality amongst individuals as a human need, and we’re humbled to be championing a meaningful cause. Heroes like Wei Soong are wonderful role models to young people. We see him living out the ‘Start Your Impossible’ spirit in his everyday work. We’re grateful to be supporting him and our partners at SDSC as they continue to inspire the lives of many.”
The SYI initiative is inspired by Toyota’s worldwide partnership with the International Olympic Committee and International Paralympic Committee, and it marks the automaker’s ongoing commitment to transform into a mobility company. The initiative supports the creation of a more inclusive, sustainable and mobile society in which everyone can challenge their impossible.
Ms Kelly Fan, Executive Director of SDSC, said, “Sport has the power to change lives and we want to provide opportunities for persons with disabilities to experience sport. Wei Soong is one of our many shining trailblazers and we hope that the community can provide a supportive, conducive environment for inspirational figures to step up.” On what the partnership means, she added, “Through SYI, we hope to bring further awareness and recognition of Paralympic sports in the local sporting scene, and of course, ignite a greater passion for sports amongst Singaporeans with disabilities.”
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