Rich harvest reaped in Special Olympics

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine delegation of 31 athletes brought home a treasure chest of 22 gold, 11 silver and 17 bronze medals from the 13th World Special Olympics that gathered over 7,000 intellectually challenged competitors representing nearly 180 countries during a recent two-week meet in Athens.

It was the richest harvest ever for the Philippines in the quadrennial event inaugurated in 1968 to provide special athletes with mental disabilities an anti-discriminatory platform where they are shown dignity, acceptance and respect.

As a reward for the glowing performance, the Philippine Olympians Association (POA) headed by two-time shooting Olympian Art Macapagal gave a cash prize of P10,000 for every gold medal captured by an individual and team in a heart-warming ceremony at the Kamayan Restaurant on ESDA last week. The cash incentives were awarded to Louie John Decolongon and Magiting Gonzales of powerlifting, Ryan Mosquera, Cherry Rose Lopez, Salamiel Montano and Phoebe Candole of athletics, Sheila Mae Suniega, Aivie Dungca, Raymond Macasaet and Chris Gutang of swimming, Melanie Valdez of gymnastics, and Margaret Babst, Liza Mel Dayon, John Derrama and John Brian Menoza of bocce. Joining Macapagal in the ceremony were 1972 shooting Olympian Ramon Aldea, 1988 taekwondo Olympian Monsour del Rosario, Special Olympics Philippines president Mariter Macapagal and Special Olympics Philippines executive director Alex Babst.

The Philippines hit paydirt in 12 individual and two team events. Earning a windfall was Decolongon, a 23-year-old powerlifter who developed his strength by carrying sacks of rice on his back in Iloilo. Decolongon bagged three gold medals, good for a P30,000 bonus. With his money, Decolongon said he will buy a carabao to put to plowing work in the ricefields. Gonzales, 33, also took three gold medals in powerlifting. Mariter Macapagal, the head of delegation in Athens, said the trip wouldn’t have been possible without the assistance of PAGCOR, the Philippine Sports Commission, Rep. Efren Trenas, Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, Cadiz City Mayor Dr. Patrick Escalante and several kind-hearted businessmen who support the cause of the intellectually disabled.

“Under the law, only physically challenged athletes, not those who are mentally disabled, may receive assistance from the PSC,” said Macapagal. “We hope someday, the law will be amended to include the mentally challenged. Still, PSC chairman Richie Garcia facilitated our travel tax exemption as athletes representing the country and requested the Department of Foreign Affairs for assistance through our embassy in Athens. The embassy staff and the Filipino community in Athens were our cheerleaders. They gave us a big lift. We received no funds from the PSC but chairman Garcia’s personal support went a long way.”  

In Athens, Macapagal said the Philippines was represented by Anton Silos, a Special Olympics bowling gold medalist who was one of seven chosen from all over the world to act as ambassador of goodwill. Silos spoke at the Athens opening rites which featured singers Stevie Wonder and Vanessa Williams, actress Zhang Ziyi, Dr. Jill Biden, NBA stars Yao Ming and Dikembe Mutombo and Olympians Michelle Kwan, Bart Conner, Edwin Moses and Donna Devarona.

Japanese head of delegation Yuko Arimori, the 1992 Barcelona Olympics silver medallist in marathon, delivered an impassioned message that brought tears to the eyes of officials and athletes as she pledged her unwavering support to the Special Olympics cause despite the recent tragedy that befell her country.

The Philippines participated in seven sports – powerlifting, swimming, athletics, gymnastics, bocce, bowling and badminton – and reaped medals from five. Macapagal said the 18-year-old Dayon’s gold medal in bocce singles was dramatic as she came from a loss to beat the highly touted Lebanese contender in a rematch. Mosquera, 25, also delivered in a thriller, outsprinting the African favourites in the 200-meter run for the gold. Valdez, 18, was another standout who defied the odds by capturing two golds in rhythmic gymnastics. With her P20,000 bonus, Valdez said she will give the money to her parents to install a toilet in their La Union home which has no indoor plumbing.

 “The competition was all about global friendship,” said Macapagal. “All the athletes went home with something – if not medals, ribbons of participation. They were all winners. They were real Olympians, exchanging pins, performing before cheering crowds. The athletes were classified under three levels of mental disability – mild, moderate and severe. The atmosphere recalled the core attributes of unity, acceptance, empowerment, dignity, courage, strength, pride, confidence and fun for special athletes to receive the treatment they rightfully deserve.”

Special Olympics Philippines was founded in 1978 and has 12,500 intellectually challenged athletes and 4,000 volunteer coaches registered in 13 regions in the country. It organizes the Special Olympics National Games every two years with the next staging hosted by Cagayan de Oro. It is a member of the 23-nation Asia-Pacific Region governed by Special Olympics International headed by chairman Dr. Tim Shriver.