Goh Cheng Yoong, 37, has cerebral palsy (CP), he is here from Penang, with his mother, Ho Lee Mei, to take part in the 14^th Paralympics in Kuala Lumpur (3to9 May). His game is boccia, an indoor bowling game especially designed for the severely disabled person.

The player, depending on his or her ability, may take 5 to 15 minutes to play, throwing or kicking or picking with a pointer from a headgear, the ball. Some players can play by themselves others need help.

Cheng Yoong needs his mother to help him play this game, as you can see from the photo. His mother sits on his right with her back against the playing field and she has to take instruction from him as to the detail position to place the shoot that launches the ball. His mother is his ‘hands’ and ‘legs’.

This couple, mother and son, for the last 37 years, has been closely link in everything in their daily life. His mother said, with a smile, that she is so use to doing things with her son, all the pain and the pleasure, good and bad days, are all mixed into one, that’s life to her. She is happy that her son can join in with the other CPs, in Penang and while at the games, and have a community life of some sort.

This set of 40 photographs was shown in 2005 in various locations in Kuala Lumpur. It was my first display of portraits of the Paralympic athletes of Malaysia and included in that collection were some pictures of the disabled kids in an art camp in Thailand. These images were taken between 2003 and2004.

Wan Tiara Azira, Boccia player, 2004

Abd. Azuan Zain, Boccia player, 2004

Mohd. Fauzi, Track athlete, 2004

Ananthy, Swimmer, 2004

Shahrul Zafiq, Boccia player, 2004

Akun Anak Raieng, Swimmer, 2004