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Astana hosts the 2025 APC Conference
Astana hosts the 2025 APC Conference

Zawya

time3 days ago

  • Sport
  • Zawya

Astana hosts the 2025 APC Conference

The Asian Paralympic Committee (APC) kicks off a key event in its institutional calendar with the 2025 APC Conference, held in the vibrant city of Astana, Kazakhstan. This year's edition gathers delegates from National Paralympic Committees (NPCs), international experts, sport federations, government representatives, and key stakeholders in the Asian para-sport movement. The 2025 APC Conference took place with insightful presentations from International Federations (IFs) and International Organisations of Sport for the Disabled (IOSDs), highlighting recent developments, strategic initiatives, and opportunities for collaboration to strengthen the Paralympic Movement in Asia. Taking place ahead of the APC General Assembly, the Conference provides a vital platform for collaboration, education, and strategic alignment. With a focus on inclusion, athlete empowerment, and sustainable growth, the 2025 edition of the Conference emphasizes the shared vision of an accessible and high-performing sporting ecosystem across Asia. A regional platform for change The one-day program includes plenary sessions and expert panels covering a wide range of critical topics, such as: Strengthening NPC governance and sport structures Pathways for youth and female participation in para-sport Regional updates on upcoming multi-sport events, including the Asian Youth Para Games Innovations in classification systems and accessible sport technologies Best practices in sport leadership and athlete welfare These discussions aim to generate actionable strategies for member NPCs, focusing on building capacity and addressing the unique challenges faced by para-athletes and their communities in Asia. On the second day of the conference, and for the first time in an APC Conference, the participants made a workshop that unite each NPCs representative in their sub-region, making teams to deliberate and work together in ideas and strategies. A message of unity and progress In his opening remarks, APC President Mr. Majid Rashed stated: 'Asia has played a big role in the growth of Para sport around the world — and we're proud of being part of that. Inclusion is not a one-time achievement — it's something we must keep working on. That's why this Conference is so important. It's our chance to talk openly about where we want to go next.' As part of the APC's broader strategy for 2025 and beyond, the Conference reaffirms its commitment to building an Asia where people with disabilities can thrive through sport. The city of Astana, known for its modern infrastructure and inclusive vision, provides the ideal backdrop for this moment of reflection, planning, and renewed inspiration. The event will be followed by a two-day General Assembly and the prestigious Asian Awards Ceremony.

STARSAND ISLAND Is Primed to Redefine Romance in the Life Sim Genre
STARSAND ISLAND Is Primed to Redefine Romance in the Life Sim Genre

Geek Girl Authority

time26-06-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Geek Girl Authority

STARSAND ISLAND Is Primed to Redefine Romance in the Life Sim Genre

Starsand Island has quickly become one of the most anticipated cozy games of the year. Following the release of its latest trailer this week, hopeful players are especially excited about the game's clean, anime-style graphics, adorable animals and, of course, romance. While dating is always a topic of interest going into any farming and life sim, what makes Starsand Island so special is how it breaks genre traditions with a more realistic approach. I was skeptical at first, since titles like last year's SunnySide kind of dropped the ball in a similar attempt. But Seed Lab's developing life sim could take genre romance in a new direction. A More Realistic Affection System Seed Lab When it comes to the farming and life sim genres, your decisions have always affected how your relationships with dateable NPCs play out. Some titles, like Harvest Moon and Fields of Mistria , lock you into a will-they-won't-they narrative until your relationship is strong enough to decide whether you'll remain friends or pursue a romantic partnership, but dating in Starsand Island seems to work a little differently. RELATED: July's Most Anticipated Video Games Developer and publisher Seed Lab says the game's NPCs aren't just 'flat characters' or 'cold quest tools.' Rather, they're fleshed-out personalities with their own memories, emotions and aspirations. In taking this approach, helping out with personal goals and appreciating the little things in life foster your bonds and encourage NPCs to evolve. As you get to know them, they also get to know you . This way, every interaction is an opportunity to take a step forward — or back. Taking the Next Step Seed Lab Starsand Island 's romance system relies on a more realistic rule of progression than others. In Seed Lab's latest reveal trailer, we got a closer look at the character profile for an islander named Pastelle. And while in-game text is still in need of a bit more polish, relationship milestones are already clear-cut. When you're just getting to know the island's singles, you can start off by gifting them items they might like. This is standard practice in the genre, and most will find this custom familiar. But once you reach two hearts, you can then go on an outing together. Your relationship continues to move forward in this way, with room visits unlocked next, then requests and, finally, cohabitation. That's not all that makes the developing title a standout ahead of launch, though. RELATED: Mobile Game Monday: Lost in Play Voice Acting Brings Starsand Island's Dating Scene to Life Seed Lab Voice acting for NPCs and the player may not be entirely unheard of in the farming and life sim genres. But–at least for me — there isn't a title that immediately comes to mind. In most cases, you carry on conversations in silence, save for a change in music. Starsand Island breaks tradition and stands out here. In the affection system trailer released by Seed Lab this week, we heard a good bit of spoken dialogue from the masculine base farmer and Pastelle. Lines were delivered between scenes of all the activities you can share with the island's most eligible. This includes watching TV, taking a seat on a backyard swing together, riding your bikes through town, bathing in hot springs — and more that's yet to be revealed. That said, it looks like these lively conversations may be limited to cutscenes. Traditional dialogue (with options) is still very much a thing here. And judging by the clips we saw in the new trailer, there's plenty of room to flirt, offer advice and lighten the mood with humor as you grow closer with the folks around Starsand Island. Starsand Island will release in late 2025 on PC (Steam). 15 Co-Op Game Announcements From June 2025 Olivia Rolls (she/her) is a weekly contributor at GGA, specializing in cozy games, anime and all things horror. Her byline has appeared at publications like The Mary Sue, The Escapist, GameSkinny and more. When she's not writing deep dives on her favorite games, shows, movies or characters, she's probably yapping about the latest pop culture trends or catching up on another Pokémon playthrough. E-mail professional inquiries to [email protected]. You can also find Olivia on Bluesky and LinkedIn.

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