TRAGEDY struck the Philippine Paralympic team after some officials, coaches and an athlete tested positive for COVID-19 last Saturday, grounding them in the country just days before the World Paralympic Games opens tomorrow at the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo.
“It is unfortunate for us to inform the public that some officials, coaches and a paraathlete of our Philippine delegation bound for Tokyo to participate in the 2020 Paralympic Games tested for COVID-19,” Philippine Paralympic Committee president Mike Barredo said in a statement yesterday.
“They are currently isolated pursuant to health protocols to contain the virus and aid them in their recovery,” Barredo added, declining to identify them out of respect for their privacy and in line with government regulations regarding the status of persons infected with the virus.
“Despite this setback, we expect that our athletes will give their best in pursuit of their Paralympic dreams and to bring honor and glory to our country. Maraming salamat at mabuhay ang atletang Pilipino!” he added.
Barredo was on an early morning flight yesterday to the Japanese capital with some of the remaining members of the national Paralympic contingent that included PPC staff member Tricia Rana, swimmer Gary Bejino and swimming coach Tony Ong.
Bejino will make his Paralympic debut as the country’s first athlete to see action in the World Para Games when he swims in in the men’s SM6 200-meter individual medley heats on Thursday morning, hoping to perform well enough to reach the finals later in the evening.
Wheelchair racer Jerold Mangliwan feels deeply honored for being chosen as the country’s flag-bearer during the opening ceremonies of the 2020 World Paralympic Games tomorrow at the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo.
“Malaking karangalan po itong mapiling flag-bearer ng ating bansa at pagkilala sa naging pagsisikap kong maging miyembro ng national paralympic team,” said Mangliwan, a veteran of the 2016 Rio Para Games like swimmer Ernie Gawilan, in a virtual press conference recently organized by Citi Bank Philippines.
