January 7, 2014
A total of 57 Filipino athletes will compete for the 7th ASEAN Para Games to be held in Naypyitaw, Myanmar from January 11-21 this year.
The biennial event, which seeks to provide a venue for differently-abled athletes to participate in competitive sports, is expected to draw around 2,000 delegates from the 11-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Mike Barredo, founding president of the Philippine Sports Association for the Differently Abled-National Paralympic Committee of the Philippines (PHILSPADA-NPC Philippines) and a board member of the ASEAN Para Sports Federation (APSF), hopes that the country’s athletes will perform better during the games.
“Our athletes are determined to do their best for the country. We are a people known all over the world as a people that rise despite the odds. We hope to maintain our standing from the previous games or do better,” said Barredo, who was also a former athlete.
The Philippines finished fifth in the overall medal tally during 2011 ASEAN Para Games held in Solo, Indonesia where the delegation brought a total of 24 gold, 27 silver, and 28 bronze medals.
Barredo said the 57 differently-abled athletes will be joined by their coaches and assistants bringing the total Philippine team to around 80 individuals.
For this year’s games, the athletes will compete in 12 sports namely swimming, table tennis, powerlifting, archery, boccia, chess, goalball, football 7-a-side, football 5-a-side, sitting volleyball, and wheelchair basketball. The small Philippine contingent will however only compete in athletics, swimming, table tennis, powerlifting, chess, archery, and wheelchair basketball events.
Aside from medals, winners will receive cash incentives, according to Barredo.
Barredo expressed optimism that amendments to Republic Act 9064 or the Cash Incentive Act for national athletes, coaches, and trainers, will finally be approved during the 16th Congress and will include athletes with disabilities.
“Every Filipino athlete that competes abroad does not represent his name but the Philippines. It is just fair that the government takes cognizance of their contribution whether they are able-bodied athletes or those with disabilities,” Barredo noted.
The ASEAN Para Games, held after every Southeast Asian Games, is the region’s version of the Paralympics that seeks to recognize differently-abled athletes.
A simple send-off ceremony will be given the delegation on January 8 at 2pm at the PhilSports Complex in Pasig City. It will be followed by a Mass after a short program supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, British Embassy, New Vois Association of the Philippines, and Pilipinos With Disabilities Inc.