MANILA, Philippines — Similar to their enthusiastic support of the country's Olympians, Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Richard Bachmann urged Filipino fans to rally behind the country's six para athletes who will vie for glory in the 17th Paralympic Games opening outdoors for the first time on Aug. 28 at the Place de la Concorde and Champs-Elysees in Paris, France.
"Let's all rally behind our six Paralympians similar to, if not more, to what we gave their able-bodied counterparts in the Paris Olympics," said Bachmann at the recent special session of the Philippine Sportswriters Association forum.
The PSC chief pointed out that just like the PH Olympic contingent, the government sports agency spent for the training of the PH Paralympic in France ahead of time before swinging into action in the quadrennial global sports showcase featuring the best physically-challenged athletes.
"Just like our Olympians, we spent for our PH Paralympians so they can train in France early and acclimatize to the conditions there," said Bachmann, who was to leave on Aug. 27 on the eve of the opening of the sportsfest. After the historic success of the PH Olympic contingent, with gymnast Carlos Edriel Yulo garnering two golds and a bronze medal each from boxers Aira Villegas and Nesthy Petecio, Bachmann was guardedly optimistic that the PH para athletes would be inspired to excel and deliver as well.
"We have some strong potentials in athletics and swimming and hopefully they will be able to bring home medals back to the Philippines." Para track and field athletes Jerrold Mangliwan, Cendy Asusano, swimmers Ernie Gawilan and Angel Mae Otom, taekwondo jin Allain Ganapin and archer Agustina Bantiloc and their respective coaches have been training in Nimes, France since Aug. 11.
They all checked in at the Paralympic Village last Wednesday where they were joined by chef de mission Ral Rosario and Philippine Paralympic Committee director for sports development Milette Santiago-Bonoan, who left for Paris the other weekend. The International Paralympic Committee allowed the media to visit the site yesterday. "The Foreign Delegation Registration was held last Wednesday and our team is slowly settling down at the Paralympic Village," Bonoan said.
National para athletic head coach Joel Deriada said that the weather in the romantic French capital was generally cool to warm.
"Medyo mainit at 19-degree Celsius this morning (afternoon in Manila) pero the other day medyo malamig at 12 degrees," he noted.
After the groundbreaking inaugural rite on Aug. 28, the first to compete will be Bantiloc in the women's individual compound event at the Esplanade des Invalides archery range on Aug. 29. TMT
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