Latest news with #Bong
The Star
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Malaysia to host Special Olympics Asia Pacific Badminton in September
Fresh off the heels of hosting the 46th Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is now preparing to welcome another meaningful event - one that celebrates the sporting talents of athletes with intellectual Sept 16-21, the Special Olympics Asia Pacific Badminton Competition 2025 will take place, for the first time in Malaysia, at Dewan Sri Putra, Bukit Jalil, KL. The regional event provides athletes with intellectual disabilities a platform to compete at their own level, showcase their talents and promote true inclusivity in sports. Organised by Special Olympics Malaysia (SOM), the competition will see the participation of over 100 athletes from countries that include Bangladesh, India, the Philippines, Singapore and Papua New Guinea. There will be 32 Malaysian participants in the event. SOM, established in 1999, is a non-profit accredited by Special Olympics International - the world's largest sports organisation for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Working with non-governmental organisations, schools and government agencies, SOM promotes inclusion through sports, health, education and community programmes. The aim is to celebrate abilities, break down barriers, and create a more inclusive society. The Special Olympics Asia Pacific Badminton Competition provides a vital platform for individuals with intellectual disabilities to showcase their talents. Photo: 123rf SOM president Bong Koi Sin, 57, says the competition highlights the importance of recognising the talents of individuals with different abilities. "All this while, Malaysia has mostly played the role of a passenger at Asia Pacific-level competitions. When the opportunity came to host it, we grabbed it. We want to create greater awareness because athletes with intellectual disabilities are often overlooked. "There is a lot of attention given to the Olympics and Paralympics, but hardly any to this group, who include individuals with Down syndrome, autism and slow learners. Individuals with different abilities are citizens too and deserve the chance to be seen and supported," says Bong after the Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony with badminton racket label FLEXpro in KL on May 21. The company will support SOM athletes during the competition. Representing the sports brand was its director and executive vice president Sun Yan Hua. Bong, who has been a volunteer with SOM for 27 years, explained that the MoU marks a milestone in the ongoing efforts to provide athletes with intellectual disabilities the resources they need to succeed in their athletic pursuits. "This collaboration represents a major step forward in empowering our athletes with the resources they need to compete at the highest level. We can provide them with the equipment and apparel that will not only enhance their performance but also boost their confidence on the field. We are deeply grateful for this generous contribution." Bong emphasised that the competition welcomes all participants regardless of gender, age or ability level. One doesn't need to be an athlete with SOM to participate in the event. Bong (left) and Sun during the Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony. "We want to give everyone a fair shot - whether they are low-, medium- or high-functioning. As long as they are able to participate, we will provide the opportunity," says Bong, a lecturer with Institut Pendidikan Guru Kampus Perempuan Melayu in Durian Daun, Melaka. SOM (Melaka) badminton coach Lee Zong Siang, 29, travelled from Bukit Berendam in Melaka for the MoU signing ceremony, accompanied by SOM (Melaka) deputy president and sports director Kristil Tan Ai Teng, along with their athletes Nur Syafiqah Mohamad Zanman, 22, and Pua Siew Shin, 21. Lee says his athletes have been training since January, and are very enthusiastic about the international event. "It is not just about winning. We want to give them a chance to build confidence, to see others like them, and enjoy the experience." Lee believes that with time, patience and passion, athletes with intellectual disabilities can thrive in sports. "You can train them - it just takes consistency. It's not something that happens overnight. It takes months of effort. During each lesson, I have to repeat the same things, over and over again. It might seem tedious but I know they can improve, if given the chance."
Korea Herald
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Watch: Bong Joon-ho reacts to Son Heung-min's legendary moment in Tottenham's Europa League victory
Oscar-winning director joins YouTube live broadcast for the Europa League final, celebrates Son's first major trophy When Tottenham Hotspur, captained by South Korea's Son Heung-min, faced Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League final, it was the early hours of Thursday morning in South Korea. Among the many fans who stayed up to watch the match was none other than Bong Joon-ho, the director of 'Parasite.' The Oscar-winning director joined a live broadcast of the game as a guest commentator, ditching his director's chair for a spot on the popular YouTube channel 'Dalsune Live,' alongside football analyst Park Moon-sung, comedian and football enthusiast Kim Shin-young and others. Bong cheered, joked and shared his predictions on how the game would unfold. Despite Son starting on the bench due to an ankle injury, Bong commented 'I expect him to come on in the second half.' Upon Tottenham's goal, which eventually sealed its victory, Bong burst into joy, hugging his co-hosts. Later, when Son was brought on in the second half just as he had forecast, the director rose to his feet and clapped with excitement. Some viewers, amused by Bong's enthusiastic reactions, joked in real time that they were watching the Cannes Film Festival, not a football livestream. Bong replied, 'Let's not bring up movies at a time like this.'
USA Today
20-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Bing Bong: How to buy Mikal Bridges New York Knicks jersey
Bing Bong: How to buy Mikal Bridges New York Knicks jersey The New York Knicks are onto the Eastern Conference Finals, and the city of New York has the craziest case of basketball fever diagnosed in that area this century. Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges and the rest of the Knicks took their series win against the Boston Celtics. New York is onto the Eastern Conference Finals. And there is only one thing to is the time to show your Knicks support. Brunson is the face of the team but Bridges has plenty of fans since his arrival in the Big Apple. Shop Mikal Bridges NY Knicks jersey Is Bridges your man? Add to your New York Knicks and Mikal Bridges collection ahead of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers now. Mikal Bridges New York Knicks jersey The Knicks are in the Conference Finals, Celebrate with a Karl-Anthony Towns Knicks jersey
Korea Herald
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Bong Joon-ho shows off soccer fandom
After sneaking soccer references into 'Mickey 17,' Oscar-winning director set to commentate Europa League final With "Mickey 17" now having fallen off the marquees, Oscar-winning director Bong Joon-ho is indulging his other passion: soccer commentary. South Korean YouTube channel Dalsoo Live announced Monday that Bong will join their broadcast team for Thursday's Europa League Final between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United. Joining him in the booth will be comedian-turned-actor Kim Shin-young of "Decision to Leave" fame, a fellow soccer superfan added at Bong's personal request. This isn't Bong's first foray into soccer talk. Back in March, during the promotional circuit for "Mickey 17," he made a surprise appearance on Dalsoo Live where he barely discussed his film and instead discussed the game with impressive expertise. During the chat, he promised to return as a commentator if Korean star Son Heung-min's Tottenham made the Europa League Final — a bet he likely never expected to cash in, as Tottenham sits at 17th out of 20 teams in the Premier League table, just one spot above relegation. Bong's soccer obsession might surprise film fans, but fans of the sport know it is nothing new. Bong is known for hijacking film interviews with soccer references. At the London premiere of "Mickey 17" in February, when asked what he would make a clone of himself do, Bong did not miss a beat: "I'd turn him into a soccer player — an attacking midfielder, like Kevin De Bruyne." The Belgian playmaker and Manchester City legend is Bong's soccer idol, and the director never misses a chance to sing his praises. "De Bruyne seems to know where players will be three or four seconds into the future," Bong explained on Dalsoo Live. "That's crucial in filmmaking, too, especially with crowd scenes — anticipating movement second by second. He has that intuition." Even "Mickey 17," a space-set political satire seemingly worlds away from the game, happens to contain soccer Easter eggs. No. 17 in the title matches De Bruyne's jersey number, something Bong practically confirmed on Dalsoo Live, admitting, "I say otherwise in film interviews, though." He also revealed that supporting characters drew inspiration from soccer stars — Steven Yeun's character "Timo" was named after German winger Timo Werner, while security agent "Kai" takes her name from Arsenal's Kai Havertz. What makes Bong's soccer fixation so interesting is how it dovetails with his cinematic sensibilities. Known for his knack for visual detail (earning him the nickname "Bongtail"), his passion for soccer borders on a lifelong obsession rivaling his commitment to film. During a 2019 radio interview, he said, "Since high school in 1985 — for over 30 years — I've been replaying soccer goal scenes in my head every single day." What fascinates the celebrated filmmaker most is the camera work, which explains his preference for watching matches on TV rather than live at the stadium. "I'm into the relationship between broadcast cameras and players," Bong explained. "At the stadium, you see everything at once. It's frustrating not being able to focus on just one player. On TV, the same shot looks completely different depending on the camera angle." "When a player shoots, sometimes the camera zooms out, but when they feint, cameramen must pivot and chase the ball in real time," he added. "Broadcasters edit everything on the fly. "In film, coordinating movement and camera angles is incredibly difficult. In soccer, they always manage to capture that perfect moment."
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Bong Joon Ho's 'Mickey 17' gets streaming release date
Oscar-winning 'Parasite' director 's ' Mickey 17 ' is all set to make its global streaming debut on Max on May 23. The film will debut on HBO linear on Saturday, May 24, reported Deadline. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Written and directed by Bong Joon Ho, 'Mickey 17' adapts the novel Mickey7 by Edward Ashton. 'Mickey 17' is Bong's first feature since 'Parasite', which became the highest-grossing Korean film in history, as well as the first non-English language movie to win Best Picture at the Oscars. The film is adapted from Edward Ashton's 2022 novel, described by publisher St. Martin Press as a high-concept cerebral thriller in the vein of 'The Martian' and 'Dark Matter'. Robert Pattinson plays an "expendable" -- a disposable employee on a human expedition sent to colonise an ice planet, who refuses to let his replacement clone take his place. Each time he dies, his consciousness is transferred into a new, cloned body, allowing him to continue his perilous duties. The plot thickens when he comes face to face with his successor, the identical-looking Mickey 18. The story follows unlikely hero, Mickey Barnes (Pattinson), who has found himself in the extraordinary circumstance of working for an employer who demands the ultimate commitment to the job.. . to die, for a living, as per Deadline. The film also stars , Naomi Ackie, and Mark Ruffalo. Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner produced it alongside director Bong and Dooho Choi, with , Jesse Ehrman, Peter Dodd and Marianne Jenkins executive producing, reported Deadline.
