PARIS. – They have varying disabilities and three are wheelchair bound.
But make no mistake, the “Sensational Six” — track and field bets Jerrold Mangliwan, Cendy Asusano, swimmers Ernie Gawilan and Angel Mae Otom, archer Agustina Bantiloc and taekwondo jin Allain Ganapin — are out to defy the odds when they battle for flag and country in the 17th Paralympic Games opening Wednesday night in Paris, France.
After they have finished taking part in the festive rites starting at 8 p.m. (2 a.m. Thursday in Manila) in their ethnic-inspired uniforms, their focus will be back to the task at hand.
Joining them in the Paralympic Games opening-night are coaches Gershon Bautista, Jonathan Josol, Berson Buen and Brian Ong of taekwondo, archery, track and field and swimming, respectively. The team’s trip was supported by the Philippine Sports Commission.
“To ensure that the spotlight is firmly on the achievements of the Paralympic athletes, the values that they embody and the emotions that they inspire in us, Paris 2024 wanted to offer them a groundbreaking showcase by organizing the first Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony outside the confines of a stadium,” Paris 2024 president Tony Estanguet said in a statement.
“Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Elysées, the world’s most beautiful avenue, will be transformed into an outstanding stage to showcase the Paralympic movement in a breathtaking setting,” Estanguet stressed of the event that is expected to draw at least 500,000 to the famous Parisian square.
The Paralympic Games inaugural rites promise to be as colorful — albeit perhaps less controversial — as the Olympic opening ceremony was also conceptualized by artistic director Thomas Jolly, regarded as the “Peter Pan” of French theater.
To reach the pinnacle of the quadrennial global sports showcase for physically-challenged athletes is no joke and the country’s “Sensational Six” are among select 4,350 athletes from 168 countries that will vie for glory in the glamorous French capital in the next two weeks.
They carry the hopes and prayers of Filipino fans and of an often overlooked and marginalized sector of Philippine society that strives to prove they can be just be as productive and as successful as their able-bodied counterparts.
“We pray that the success of our Olympians in Paris just two weeks ago will rub off and inspire our athletes to excel more than ever before,” Philippine Paralympic Committee president Mike Barredo said in a statement from Manila.
“We would like to thank PSC Chairman Dickie Bachmann for fully supporting our Paralympians, allowing them extra time in France to acclimatize and adjust so they can do better and hold their own with the best in their respective sports,” Barredo said.
“We urge our countrymen to pray just as hard for them so that they can exceed all our expectations and make our country proud!” he said.
Bachmann left for Paris Tuesday to witness and root for the Pinoy standard-bearers from start to finish.
“Our para athletes have had to strive and work harder so that they can show to everyone that they are just dedicated and passionate about their sport. We admire them for overcoming their handicaps to prove that they belong among the elite in the Paralympic Games,” he said.
First to see action after Wednesday night’s opening ceremony is Bantiloc, who will compete in the women’s compound event at the shooting range in Les Invalides, a complex of buildings that pays homage to the colorful military history of France.
