ASEAN Para Games unwraps today

The Third ASEAN Para Games fires off beginning today with close to 700 athletes, featuring the best differently-abled athletes culled out from all over Southeast Asia, vying for top honors in various disciplines at the Rizal Memorial track and field stadium.

Festive opening rites usher in the week-long event with an estimated 15,000 spectators composed of representatives from the 897 barangays and 130 public and private schools all over Manila expected to join the ceremonies to be highlighted by a cultural performance by more than 1,000 dancers. according to Manila Sports Council (MASCO) chief Arnold ‘Ali" Atienza, chairman of the Opening Ceremonies Committee.

Philippine ASEAN Para Games Organizing Committee (PAPGOC) chairman Michael Barredo and Manila Mayor Lito Atienza will lead the country’s top sports officials in the opening ceremonies. Also invited to grace today’s event are Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William Ramirez and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose CojuangcoJr., together with PSC commissioners Ricardo Garcia, Ambrosio de Luna, Leon Montemayor, and Jose Mundo.

Events on tap are athletics, swimming, powerlifting, badminton, table tennis, wheelchair basketball, goalball, chess, wheelchair tennis and judo.

Besides the use of various facilities at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, the PSC has provided assistance to the PAPGOC for the event co-presented by the PCSO, PSC and DPWH, and backed by PLDT-Smart, Systems Technology, Inc., Pag-ibig, SM Shoemart, Philpost, Philspada, NBN-4, Manila Bulletin, and the City Government of Manila.

Manila’s Youth and Barangay Bureaus, as well as the Public Service, Health and Engineering Departments, including the Division of City Schools, Kabataan ng Maynila and Kababaihan ng Maynila have also thrown their full support to the event featuring amputees, cerebral palsied, intellectually disabled, les autres, visually impaired, and wheelchair users.

The event is also supported by American President Line, Pfizer Inc., Red Ribbon, Crossover 105.1, Sports Radio, IBM Computers, Mettaphione, GSIS, and various national government agencies.

The ASEAN Para Games was conceived not only to allow the region’s disabled sector to enjoy life and become productive citizens of society through sports, but also to promote regional solidarity.