Seniors get active on bicycles

Contributed by Karen Ho/People’s Association

East Coast Park, Sunday, November 8, 2009 – Visit any youth park and you will see adventurous youngsters doing bicycle tricks such as cycling on ramps. Can any boy or girl in the street be able to do so? With courage and practice, perhaps. But can you imagine seniors attempting such stunts?

This challenge was thrown to a group of participants during the Bicycle Driving Skills Competition organised as part of the Jurong Central Active Agers Sports Extravaganza 2009. The participants, many of whom were seniors, bravely tested their skills such as cycling on the narrow ramp.

Their supporters, who included Guest-of-Honour Mr Lim Boon Heng, Minister, Prime Minister's Office, Deputy Chairman of People's Association and Adviser to Jurong Grassroots Organisations, cheered them on.

Among the participants was 71 year old Mr Lee Ngak Wee who had previously taken part in a couple of Community Clubs-based cycling competitions. He said, "Such events are very good at keeping seniors physically and mentally active and healthy".

There were also other activities such as line dance, gateball and petanque that 650 residents at East Coast participated. Mdm Tan Kiu Kang, 67 years old, was happy to attend the event as it allowed her to try her hand at different sports and to meet and bond with other seniors.

This event is part of the Active Agers' Games (AAG) introduced by the People's Association. The AAG is a series of competitions aimed at engaging seniors in physical activities and active mind games.