Ano po ang aasahan natin sa 2012 London Paralympics? Ilang atleta po ang ipapadala ng Pilipinas?
Right now, we plan to send 12 athletes.
There are requirements for the athletes to qualify to the Paralympics. One is that the athlete must qualify for the minimum standards.
That’s the first. Out of the 12, we have two in powerlifting who have met the standards.
We just finished the Malaysian zonals where we won gold medals in road and track cycling.
The problem with cycling is that it is decided by point system. Qualification to the Paralympics in cycling is determined by the points accumulated by the cyclist in international competitions.
But the times our cyclists registered in the zonals are even better than the time of the gold medalist in the 2008 Beijing Paralympics.
So, if they don’t get in through the point system, we can get them in through their best personal times.
We have two in athletics who are up to standards and our table tennis player is on top of the world rankings. So, we have seven athletes who are sure of making the 2012 London Paralympics.
Hopefully, five more will make the standards by April.
Malaki ba ang pag-asa na manalo ng medalya ang Pilipinas?
A gold or silver medal will be fantastic. Winning a medal in an international tournament as big as the Paralympics, where over 100 countries are participating, is a big achievement any way you look at it.
Hopefully, our athletes will bring home at least a bronze.
May problemang pinansyal para sa Paralympics?
We are being funded by the PSC. We have no problem with funds as far as sending our 12 athletes to London.
Ano pa ang mga projects at programs ng Philspada?
We do have a grassroots program. We just finished the National Games for the differently-abled athletes of the country.
Through the National Games, we were able to get athletes from the provinces.
Last year, together with the PSC as well, we conducted training seminars for coaches and trainers of differently-abled athletes in Zamboanga, Bacolod and San Fernando.
The seminar was held in cooperation with DepEd and DPWH. People from various regions attended the seminar to learn how to develop better differently-abled athletes.
Paano naman makapagbibigay suporta ang sambayanan sa inyo?
Off the bat, people like you and your editor who write and feature us are giving tremendous support.
Awareness of the existence of our athletes is a big thing for us. We want people to know that this particular sector exists.
We are also thankful to the POC and PSC for their support.
We are able to send 12 of our athletes to the 2012 London Paralympics because of the POC and PSC.
Truth of the matter is, we are sending more athletes to the Paralympics than the 2012 London Olympics.