Can a sport break barriers and bring people of all abilities together? Parabowls—a modified version of lawn bowls—is doing just that. Host Umayal Eswaran speaks with Ganesh Ramanathan, President of Parabowls Singapore, about his journey as an athlete and advocate championing accessibility in the sport. This episode also explores sports’ role in inclusion, Singapore’s leadership in disability sports, and the push for global representation. Tune in for an inspiring talk on breaking stereotypes and promoting equality!
Show Notes
00:00 – 02:21 | Introduction
- Welcome to RYTHM Connect
- Introducing Ganesh Ramanathan
- Parabowls: driving inclusion through sport
02:22 – 06:51 | Passion for Lawn Bowls and Advocacy
- An athlete and an advocate
- What the game entails
- Bringing lawn bowls to athletes with disabilities
06:52 – 09:58 | The Power of Sports in Inclusion
- The sport’s unique sportsmanship
- Playing for enjoyment and empowering others
- Expanding access through leadership
09:59 – 13:22 | Competitive Representation in Sports
- National and international level opportunities
- Gaining recognition on the big stage
- Platforms for athletes with disabilities to thrive
13:23 – 19:38 | An Inspiring Story of Transformation
- Mahindran Pasupathy’s inspiring journey
- A life renewed for an athlete with a visual impairment
- Family and community support for athletes with disabilities
19:39 – 25:00 | Breaking Stereotypes in Adaptive Sports
- The societal shift needed for true inclusion
- A rare sport uniting all abilities
- Plans for fully inclusive competitions
25:01 – 29:39 | Singapore’s Leadership in Disability Inclusion
- Government initiatives and policy changes
- The “Disability Sports Master Plan 2024”
- Expanding access and boosting participation
29:40 – 31:55 | Challenging Disability Stigmas
- How Parabowls Singapore is shifting perceptions
- Inspiring more people with disabilities to join sports
- The importance of long-term community support
31:56 – 38:52 | Expanding Accessibility Through Innovation
- Short mat bowls for easier accessibility
- Adapting Parabowls for all ages and environments
- Boosting participation through local partnerships
38:53 – 40:01 | Closing Thoughts
- The uniting power of sports
- Inclusion: Opportunity, not charity
- Inspiring communities to foster belonging
