ISG in Singapore paddles for humanity

It was a sunny Friday afternoon, and ISG in Singapore gathered by the scenic Kallang Riverside Park for the annual dragon boat cup challenge organised by trade supplier of workplace products, MTM Solutions, and co-sponsored by ISG.

Dragon boating is one of the oldest sports in the world, dating back 2,000 years in the southern provinces of China. In a race, elongated teak watercrafts are typically filled with a team of 20 paddlers. Teamwork is key in ensuring that the boat gathers enough power and speed to propel forward and while it may look intimidating, this element of paddling in synchrony is what makes this sport an effective social, teambuilding activity.

In its eighth year running, this year’s race saw the attendance of over 450 industry participants from 25 companies including the likes of Cushman & Wakefield, Currie & Brown, Turner & Townsend, JLL, CBRE, Gensler, Arcadis, WT Partnership and M Moser Associates.

Beyond just a sporting event that offers industry players to network and participate in a friendly competition, it also includes an element of giving something back, with Habitat for Humanity as this year’s official charity partner.

Funds raised from this event goes towards Habitat Singapore’s work of providing affordable, safe and sanitary homes to vulnerable elderly and low-income families in poverty-stricken countries across Asia Pacific.

The race kicked off with five sets of heats, and the Singapore team qualified to compete in the Vase final against Geyer, kyoob architects, 8build and HSBC, where ISG emerged as the second runner-up.

Steve Ramsden, ISG’s managing director for Southeast Asia and Middle East said: “The team did an amazing job, putting in their best effort to compete in the races. This event helped everyone unwind in a healthy manner and provided the opportunity to strengthen the camaraderie with each other – all while playing a part in giving back to the community.”