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Among the priorities of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) is the allocation of sufficient support and funds for Pinoy Para Athletes to achieve their dream of qualifying for the 2024 Paralympics in Paris.
PSC Commissioner Walter Francis ‘Wawit’ Torres announced that the agency has allocated sufficient funds for athletes with disabilities to use in their preparation and participation in the Paralympics qualifying tournament this year.
The Paralympics are scheduled for August 28 to September 8.
“The PSC is in full support of our para-athletes’ quest for an Olympics slot. Just like our regular athletes, we can monitor them to ensure that they get all their needs from training uniform, allowances, training, and participation abroad particularly the scheduled qualifying meets for the Paris Games,” said Torres, Commissioner-in- -Charge to Para-athletes, in the held Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports, Inc. (TOPS) ‘Usapang Sports’ this Thursday at the VIP Room of the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Malate, Manila.
Torres is confident that the Pinoy Para-athletes will qualify for Paris and win a medal in the quadrennial meet.
“Considering our athletes’ performances in several tournaments abroad like the ASEAN and Asian Para Games in the past years, we have a good chance to win a medal in Paris,” said Torres in the program sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Behrouz Persian Cuisine and Pocari Sweat.
The 19-year-old Otom, who was born without arms, emerged as the first Filipino triple-gold performer in the 11th ASEAN Para Games last year in Indonesia. The Olongapo City pride won the women’s 50-m backstroke S5; a 50-m butterfly in 48.07 seconds; and women’s 50-m freestyle S5 (41.40).
Gawilan is a two-time Olympian (2016 and 2020) and the first Pinoy to win a gold medal in the Asian Paralympics in 2018 in Jakarta, claiming triple gold in swimming. In the 2022 Hangzhou meet he added another gold.
“ASEAN multi-medalist swimmer Angel Otom, and Para legend Ernie Gawilan are almost there. They only need to maintain their respective ranking inside the TOP 10. However, there is still a qualifying meet scheduled to join the two,” according to Torres, former Vice President of the Philippine Sports Association for the Differently Abled (PHILSPADA) before being appointed PSC Commissioner.
Torres also stated that the cooperation between the PSC and PHILSPADA will continue to promote a National tournament comparable to the Batang Pinoy and Philippine National Games for Para-athletes.
Such tournaments will help more young people with disabilities to try sports and develop their talents and skills not only in the family but also in the town.
“We need continuity and strengthen our grassroots program not only for our regular athletes but also for Para-athletes. Although we have not yet achieved the ideal framework in Para sports, some sports associations are included in their programs and activities which is good for the athletes,” said Torres.
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