PSC holds webinars for para athletes, coaches

THE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) hosted a weeklong webinar for national para athletes and coaches in celebration of the National Council on Disability Affairs’ (NCDA) 42nd National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Day.

Dubbed “Para sa Para-athletes: Isang selebrasyon ng pagpupugay at pasasalamat sa mga natatanging Filipino Para-athletes,” the PSC Sports Rehabilitation Unit partnered with the Philippine Paralympic Committee (PPC) for the series of online seminars for the differently-abled.

“Our goal is to raise social-media awareness about para sports, para athletes and persons with disabilities, and recognize their achievements for the country,” PSC Sports Rehabilitation OIC Rico Barin said.

PPC President Mike Barreto and Secretarygeneral Walter Torres thanked PSC Chairman William Ramirez and the Sports Rehabilitation Unit for the initiative.

“We thank Chairman Ramirez for making sure that our para athletes are educated on sports psychology programs like this to reinforce their training and skills,” Barredo said.

“This tribute given to our para athletes during the NDPR week is a boost in their morale and self-esteem, especially at times like this when the pandemic has resulted in the cancellation of sporting events,” Torres said.

More than 300 para athlete in athletics, sitting volleyball, football, swimming, chess, archery, wheelchair basketball, cycling, dancesport, triathlon, bowling, powerlifting, badminton, table tennis, goalball and boccia took part in the program staged from July 17 to 23.

Topics on body and postural mechanics, proper mobilization and transfer strategies for para athletes, as well as online zumba session were conducted by PSC’S Physical Therapists Arryl Puchero, Maya Angelou Mel, Jaja Antonio, Riggs Poblete, Christine Magtibay and Fatima Pereyra.