PHILIPPINE Sports Commission chairman Richard Bachmann says seeing the world’s best para athletes in action in the 17th Paris Paralympic Games was an eye-opener.
“Madami ring leanings and things that we should actually improve on,” Bachmann said before returning to Manila.
Aside from cheering for the country’s bets in the Games, Bachmann also watched other sports like wheelchair basketball and sitting volleyball to determine if Pinoy para athletes can compete in those disciplines in future international competitions while expanding the national para athletic pool.
“We have already seen that our athletes can win at the Southeast Asian and Asian level for both able-bodied national and para athletes. We are now looking at how they can be more competitive on the world stage in other sports,” Bachmann said.
“We’re institutionalizing the Para Philippine National Games and this is one thing we will discuss with PPC president Barredo once I get home,” he said, preferring the meet to be a stand-alone one separate from the Philippine National Games for able-bodied athletes.
Moving forward, he added there is a pressing need to look for potential for the national para team, citing the fact that veterans such as para swimmer Ernie Gawilan and wheelchair racer Jerrold Mangliwan are not getting any younger.
Bachmann also said it’s about time para athletes had their bus or coaster for their transport.
He is also looking for para-specific equipment for their needs so they can get used to them, like those being used in para archery, way ahead of an international competition.
“There are other aspects that our team in the PSC can work on, but these are things I have in mind for now,” he said.
The PSC honcho is back in the country to prepare the courtesy call of the Philippine Paralympic contingent, which left the French capital late Monday night, at Malacanang on Thursday.
