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By Calvin Yang
JUST like their Summer Olympics counterparts, athletes competing in the upcoming Paralympics in Beijing are also here for their pre-meet preparations.
The basketball teams of South Africa and the United Kingdom have been based at the United World College in Dover Road for a training camp since Sunday and Monday respectively.
But it is not all work and no play for them - in fact, the teams enjoyed a dinner hosted by the Night Safari last night.
The 24 athletes dined at the revamped Bongo Burgers restaurant, which offers al fresco dining and performances by tribal dancers who kept the diners enthralled with fire-eating and blowpipe demonstrations.
The teams also took a tram ride around the Night Safari.
South Africa coach Viv Sierra told my paper: "This is my first time in Singapore but the experience so far has been fantastic. I feel that most places here are generally wheelchair-friendly.
"Some of us have even joked about staying here for the long term."
Besides competing against each other in a five-game series which ends on Saturday, coaches and players from both teams were also invited to conduct training clinics for students at the school. The teams will leave Singapore on Sunday.
South Africa, which has won its past four tournaments in the lead-up to the games, will be looking for a top-eight placing in Beijing.
Britain, the 2004 Athens Paralympics bronze medallist, however, will be hoping for nothing less than a podium finish.
Coach Murray Tresedar said: "We have done a lot of work to change the culture of our team.
"Now, we work very well as a team rather than as individuals."
The wheelchair-basketball competition will be held at Beijing?s National Indoor Stadium from Sept 7 to 16.
For more my paper stories click here.
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