ASEAN Para Games cancellation tough but needed — officials

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

CANCELING something much had been put into is a decision not easy to make but sometimes unavoidable circumstances and pressing concerns push such to be made, like in the case of the 10^th ASEAN Para Games.

Supposed to happen in the country in October, the biennial sporting event for the differently abled athletes is set to be canceled as local sports officials moved to follow government direction in the battle against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Citing health and financial concerns, officials and organizers of the ASEAN Para Games here said it would be impossible now to stage the event as seamlessly as possible as they envisioned it to be.

“As far as the decision was concerned we were anticipating it already. When we heard of the news that the Department of Budget and Management was looking at the realignment of unused programs for the year I knew that the Para Games will be affected. Then there is the overall welfare of our countrymen [in the face of COVID-19] which is very important,” said Michael Barredo, president of the Philippine Paralympic Committee (PPC), in a phone patch interview with PTV Sports on Monday.

The PPC official said the notice of cancellation was relayed to him by PSC Chairman William Ramirez following the PSC board meeting last week.

Mr. Barredo said the letter of the country’s decision had already been sent to the ASEAN Para Sports Federation (APSF) and they are now awaiting word from the APSF on the fate of the Games.

The ASEAN Para Games usually takes place after the staging of the Southeast Asian Games.

The 10^th edition of the sporting meet was originally scheduled to happen in January following the SEA Games hosting of the country in December but budget problems by the PSC, the agency tasked to fund the Para Games, forced the event to be postponed to March.

Then the COVID-19 pandemic happened, moving the organizers to propose to stage the Games in October, hoping that by that time there is more clarity on the disease and its impact.

Things for the staging turned for the worse when the DBM, through National Budget Circular 580, made known that it would undertake belt-tightening measures, including rechanneling parts of the national budget to the fight against COVID-19.

Among those affected was the money allotted for the PSC, from which budget for the ASEAN Para Games was to be derived from, leaving the sports agency with no choice but to pull the plug on financially supporting the event.

And it was not only the Para Games that was affected as other events under the watch of the PSC for the rest of the year had all been canceled.

Mr. Barredo said the news was hard to accept but that he clearly understands where the PSC and the government are coming from just as he expressed hope that the APSF and other paralympic federations in the region would understand the decision as they themselves deal with COVID-19 in their own countries.

FRUSTRATION AND DISAPPOINTMENT
Given the way it went for the 10^th ASEAN Para Games, Mr. Barredo said it is normal that stakeholders in the country feel frustrated and disappointed.

“We have been working on it for two and half years. Of course, there is frustration and disappointment because this is for the para athletes who have been training and looking forward to competing in front of their countrymen,” said Mr. Barredo.

“The ASEAN Para Games is the first step for them to showcase their talent and what they can do to the world. All of us were looking forward to competing but this happened. They (athletes) feel bad also because the Games was an opportunity for them to get added incentive because under the law those who win medals will be rewarded,” he added.

And such sentiment is not lost to Mr. Ramirez, who said he truly feels for the para athletes of the country.

“I can feel their frustration and anxiety on losing the chance to compete,” said the PSC chairman in a separate interview with PTV Sports.

“There is always that frustration but as the leader of the PSC I am just following the instruction of the national government. While it is true that these marginalized people need the attention and we have to help them, we cannot do anything. COVID-19 is very lethal and we have to protect the athletes, especially the para athletes, and that is more of our concern now,” he added.

NOT THE END
But despite what had happened, Messrs. Barredo and Ramirez urged para athletes and other stakeholders not to lose hope and continue forging ahead with the paralympic push.

“We must not lose hope. COVID-19 really affected everything sports here. Local leagues postponed their events, some were even cancelled. Even the Olympics was postponed for next year. But this is not the end of it. Sports will always be there. Just continue training and preparing because there are still future events to compete in. And keep safe,” said Mr. Barredo.

He went on to say that they will start to put “closure” on things, including terminating basic operations for the hosting of the Para Games.

Mr. Ramirez, for his part, reiterated their continued support for the PPC and the para athletes.

“We will honor our commitment to pay all the operational expenses of the Para Games and we are committed to procuring equipment for our athletes and other privileges, including their allowances. We will take care of them,” the PSC chairman said.