TOKYO. – Having left their troubles behind in Manila, all 12 members of the Philippine contingent have settled down and are getting ready for the opening ceremonies of the 2020 World Paralympic Games on Tuesday at the sprawling Japan National Stadium.
From their quarantine facility at the Conrad Hotel in Manila, the delegation left early Sunday for the airport and were given a clean bill of health on their arrival at the Haneda International Airport in Tokyo before noon.
They were taken by shuttle to the Paralympic Athletes Village where each delegate was assigned their respective quarters in the trip fully supported by the Philippine Sports Commission.
Philippine Paralympic Committee president Mike Barredo leads the delegation made up of swimmers Ernie Gawilan and Gary Bejino, discus thrower Jeanette Aceveda, wheelchair racer Jerrold Mangliwan and powerlifter Achelle Guion.
Taekwondo jin Allain Ganapin and his coach, Dindo Simpao, are scheduled to leave for the Japanese capital on Aug. 29.
A veteran of the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games, Mangliwan will be country’s flag-bearer during the audience-free inaugural rites starting at 7 p.m. (8 p.m. in Manila) within the 80,000-seat arena featuring the world’s premier para-athletes from 163 countries.
PPC Secretary-General Walter Torres said the delegation members will be clad in the traditional Barong Tagalog designed by the Bordadao ni Apolonia, a family of noted artisan embroiderers from Taal, Batangas.
Chief of mission Francis Daiz said a meeting among CDMs was held Monday where they discussed issues being encountered by the participants.
“There are athletes who don’t follow protocols, walang mask, mga pasaway, which are flagged by the Japanese volunteers at the village,” said Diaz.
“All of our team members are loving it: the atmosphere is really magnificent and the food great,” said Diaz, the dean of the UP-Diliman College of Human Kinetics, said.
