PSC recommends Para Games postponement
THE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has recommended the postponement of of the 10th Asean Para Games to be hosted by the Philippines on March 20 to 28 citing the threat of the novel Coronavirus (nCov) acute respiratory disease in the Asian region.
“We have considered advising the [ Philippine] Paralympic Committee to postpone the hosting of the 2020 Asean Paralympics in March to prevent the infection, contamination of the virus,” PSC Chairman William Ramirez told the media in a news conference on Thursday.
“Bakit pa tayo maghihintay na maramingma- infect. Mas mabuti ang prevention. Kung maayos naman ituloy natin ( Why should we wait until many were infected? Prevention is better. We will push through with the event if the situation improves). The whole world is affected by this. We are afraid of contamination. It is really our concern right now, ”Ramirez added.
Ramirez and PSC Commissioners Arnold Agustin and Ramon Fernandez also announced they already postponed the National Sports Summit on February 27 to 28, the Philippine National Games in May and the Children Games because of the nCov threat.
The PSC said there is still no Filipino athlete infected with the nCov.
The Philippine Paralympic Committee, under its president Michael Barredo is in charge of the 11-nation biennial meet.
Barredo is scheduled to fly to Bangkok, Thailand to consult the issue with the Asian Paralympic Sports Federation ( APSF).
“The bottom line is what is best for our para athletes in the Philippines and Southeast Asia,” said Barredo, who is considering moving the event to April or May.
“I don’t want to preempt their (APSF) decision,” said Barredo.
The hosting of the 10th Asean Para Games was originally set January 18 to 25 in New Clark City, Subic and Metro Manila but the PSC decided to reschedule it to March 20 to 28 citing lack of funding.
The 10th Asean Para Games is an adjacent event of the 30th Southeast Asian Games which the Philippines successfully hosted last November 30 to December 11.