BY NICK GIONGCO
Putting premium on the safety not only of athletes and delegates but the entire nation as well, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) on Thursday strongly recommended that the ASEAN Para Games scheduled in March be postponed owing to the worsening Wuhan coronavirus epidemic.
PSC chairman Butch Ramirez told the media during a briefing that a board resolution has been passed calling for the postponement of the ASEAN Para Games.
Ramirez said proceeding with the hosting would endanger the well-being and safety not only of those taking part but the country as well with visitors from neighboring countries and Chinese technical officials participating.
The ASEAN Para Games was supposed to take place in March at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, where the 2019 Southeast Asian Games was held.
“Common sense dictates that we should not proceed with the holding,” said Ramirez, adding that he received a directive from Malacanang on Wednesday.
Though it is not the Philippines’ call to decide on the matter, the PSC’s stand on the issue should weigh heavily on the decision that will be made by the head of the ASEAN Para Games.
Mike Barredo, who heads the Philippine Paralympic Committee, is traveling to Bangkok on Friday to relay the message of the Philippine government and determine what moves to take.
As host, the Philippines is spending for the holding of the biennial sportsfest and it would be very difficult to proceed with the event without crucial government backing.
The PSC also scrapped the National Sports Summit scheduled Feb. 27-28, the Philippine National Games in May and events and activities that require the participation of 40 or more.
The postponement and cancellation of sporting events in Asia has been happening the past few weeks as the Wuhan medical situation continues to take the spotlight across the globe.
In China alone, several Olympic qualifying tournaments and similar events have been either postponed or scrapped, including qualifying events in boxing and women’s football and the Asian Indoor Athletics championships.
TAEKWONDO TILT
ALSO IN PERIL
Meantime, The Philippine Taekwondo Association is yet to receive an advisory from host country China on whether the Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament scheduled in April will go as scheduled or not.
With the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus, many sports events in Asia have been postponed for the safety of everybody.
Toshiro Muto, a Japanese Olympic official, said he hoped the outbreak in China would be quickly contained to restore confidence in the run-up to the Olympics.
“We are extremely worried in the sense that the spread of the infectious virus could pour cold water on momentum for the Games,” he said.
PTA official Stephen Fernandez said Thursday that the Asian federation has already written to the organizers inquiring about the tournament’s status after several countries including the Philippines have implemented a temporary travel ban to and from China.
“With what’s happening around the world, wala pang advise,” Fernandez said.
The Asian Qualification is scheduled on April 10 to 11 in the city of Wuxi, around 700 kilometers from Wuhan, the epicenter of the Novel Coronavirus.
The boxing qualifier, which Wuwas was supposed to host, was the first to be reset.
It also cancelled qualifiers for women’s basketball, women’s soccer and the indoor athletics.
The basketball and soccer qualifiers will now be held in Belgrade, Serbia and Sydney, Australia, while the boxing qualifier will be in Amman, Jordan.
“For the last couple of years kasi, dun ginagawa ang qualification. Very active ang China sa hosting ng mga tournaments, so we’ll see on how they will handle this situation,” Fernandez said.
Despite the developments, Fernandez said the athletes remain focused on their training in the country.
“Tuluy-tuloy naman ensayo nila para kung sakaling malipat, handa naman tayo,” he said.
Taekwondo produced eight gold, nine silver and four bronze medals during last year’s SEA Games, and officials are hoping they can send as many representatives as they can. (With a report from Kristel Satumbaga)
