Yes, I can

In two days, London plays host once again to a giant, inspiring multi-sport competition. The 2012 Paralympics showcases our differently-abled brethren competing in 21 sports, from archery to wheelchair basketball, wheelchair fencing, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair tennis.

In celebration of the moving games and also as a send-off to the Philippine Paralympians, the British Embassy partnered with SM SuperMalls, PhilSPADA-NPC Philippines, British Council and Samsung to hold the “I Can!” photo exhibit as part of its drive to change the way the general public behaves towards people with disability and disability sport.

“History has proven that even a single image can have the power to evoke strong emotion, to change perceptions and to mobilize people into action, said British Ambassador Stephen Lillie at the exhibit launch held at the Podium Wednesday evening. “The Paralympics is an excellent platform to promote respect, acceptance and equality for persons with disabilities. We want to echo this message using the inspiring visual images featured in this photo exhibit.”

 The photos from the contest launched in July as part of the countdown to the Summer Games, were stunning. Many showed the paradox of an athlete with disability doing things even able-bodied persons have difficulty attempting: our high jump Paralympian in full flight against a bank of clouds, and many others which highlight the unbreakable spirit of our athletes.

One of the first global figures in sports for the disabled was Abebe Bikila, the first Ethiopian to win an Olympic gold medal. Bikila won two golds in 1968 and 1972 (winning the first-ever for his country completely barefoot. Soon after those milestone achievements, he lost the use of his legs in an accident, and was unable to run again. However, he took up archery and became a champion in several international competitions for the differently-abled.

The past years, Filipinos have excelled in various competitions in wheelchair basketball, blind chess and endurance sports. The Philippine Sports Commission has allocated funding for the support of differently-abled athletes. Now, the British Embassy has taken it a step further through a very public event which shows even those who are disabled – Filipino or otherwise – have the capacity to exceed expectations and exceed limits.

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The other Saturday, the Philippines held its national finals to select a representative for the seventh World Cup Street Basketball game to be held in China. Eliminations for this basketball game-machine contest had already been held in other countries in Europe and Asia, such as Taiwan, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan and New Zealand, among others.

Thanks to the sudden rise in popularity of former New York Knick Jeremy Lin, the China Cup Street Basketball International Tournament, Taiwan’s elimination for the event, became the largest game-machine contest in that country. Organized by Saint-Fun, the seventh China Cup Street Basketball Taiwan Final and Asian Grand Prix took place on May 12 at the GTI Expo in Taiwan, with game makers from over 70 countries like Sega and Namco participating. The winner received a brand-new BMW.

In the Philippine competition held at the Trinoma Mall Aug. 18, a former colleague, Rudy Yagumyum emerged champion. Yagumyum, a veteran cameraman for ABS-CBN News for close to two decades, has been religiously playing the game for years, and has been actively competing in tournaments against many much younger opponents.

Since leaving broadcast news, Yagumyum has been organizing political media fora at a hotel in Quezon City. He credits his quick reflexes and skill in the game to the thousands of breaking news stories he has shot in the field, and which have aired on popular primetime newscasts such as “TV Patrol” and “The World Tonight”.