The Philippines will be sending 57 athletes and 23 officials to the 7th ASEAN Para Games slated Jan. 11 to 21 in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.
This was announced yesterday by Philippine Sports Association for the Differently Abled (PHILSPADA) president Michael Barredo during the PSA Forum as Shakey's Malate.
The Filipino athletes, however, will only see action in seven of the 12 sports calendared this year. They will take part in athletics, swimming, table tennis, powerlifting, chess, archery and wheelchair basketball but not in boccia, goalball, football 7-aside, football 5-aside and sitting volleyball.
"Our athletes are determined to do their best for the country and hope that we can maintain our standing from the previous games or do better," said Barredo .
In the 2011 edition held in Surakarta, Indonesia, the PH team won 24 gold, 27 silver and 28 bronze medals to finish fifth overall behind Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam. The country sent 46 athletes and 19 officials and entered in six sports.
Like the able-bodied athletes who competed in last month's Southeast Asian Games also in Myanmar, the differently-abled athletes will also receive financial rewards from the Philippine Sports Commission.
Gold winners will get P100,000, while silver and bronze winners will earn P50,000 and P10,000, respectively – the same amount given to PH medalists in the recent SEAG.
"Every athlete whether able-bodied or with a disability who competes abroad represents the country therefore, it is just proper that the government takes cognizance of their contribution," Barredo said.
A send-off ceremony will be given to the delegation today at 2 p.m. at the Philsports Complex in Pasig City. (Kristel Satumbaga)
http://www.information.myanmaronlinecentre.com/rp-fields-57-bets/
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