ASEAN University Games closes in style
The ASEAN University Games 2016 (AUG) closed with a spectacular show of colourful parades and performances at NUS Town Green on 19 July 2016. Meant to promote ASEAN solidarity and build rapport between the youth athletes of the various ASEAN countries, the biennial Games was held between 10 and 19 July 2016. This was the third time Singapore hosted the Games since it began in 1981. The last two occasions were in 1986 and 1994.
The Guest-of-Honour at the closing ceremony was Ms Sim Ann, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Finance. Ms Sim Ann witnessed the formal handover of the AUG flag by Dr Tan Eng Liang, Chairman of the Organising Committee and Professor Datuk Dr Abdullah Mohamad Said, President of the ASEAN University Sports Council to President of the Myanmar University Sports Federation, Dr Thien Wi. Myanmar will be the next host country of the Games.
From left: Dr Tan Eng Liang and Professor Datuk Dr Abdullah Mohamad Said handing over the AUG flag to Dr Thien Wi
The Ceremony included athletes’ and volunteers’ parades which celebrated the athletes’ achievements and experiences as well as honoured the hard work of the volunteers. NUS alumna Sophie Zara also performed, wowing the crowd with her vocals.
Some of the Singapore contingent during the athletes' parade
It ended with a lively performance by Myanmar, followed by an after-party rock concert, featuring rock bands from five different Singapore universities; NUS, the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Management University, the Singapore University of Technology and Design and Singapore Institute of Management. NUS was represented by the NUS Electronic Music Lab.
In total, the AUG had an estimated 1,500 participants from 11 different countries competing in 16 sports. Singapore’s contingent for the Games this year comprised 274 athletes, of whom 95 were from NUS. In total, Singapore won 73 medals — 24 gold, 20 silver and 29 bronze. Thirty seven of those medals were won by NUS athletes or teams with NUS athletes, in sports such as archery, canoeing, athletics, table tennis, shooting, fencing, waterpolo, football and rugby.
One of the big winners from NUS was national paddler Mervyn Toh, who won five gold medals in Canoeing during the Games, in the men’s 500m K1, 200m K1, 200m K2, 500m K4 and 200m K4 events.
Mervyn Toh excelled during the men's 200m K1 race (Photo credit: Joelle Chan/ASEAN University Games)
See the medal tally of events with NUS participants .
