Health issue concerns sports officials

MANILA, Philippines — Will the ASEAN Para Games push through as scheduled despite the coronavirus scare?

“Under consideration,” Tom Carrasco, vice president of the Philippine Paralympic Committee, which is organizing the biennial meet for the differently abled athletes, told The STAR yesterday.

Carrasco said the PPC was deliberating on the matter with Philippine Sports Commission chairman William “Butch” Ramirez at his office in Malate, Manila at press time.

The Para Games was already moved from its original schedule of Jan. 18 to 25 to March 21-27 in Clark because of budgetary concerns.

But Philippine chef-de-mission Kiko Diaz is optimistic it will be held as planned.

“It will push through,” said Diaz.

Meanwhile, the Palarong Pambansa, an annual multi-sports event for K-12 students, will push through as scheduled amid the coronavirus threat.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones announced Tuesday that they are postponing all off-campus events, including the Palaro, but made clarifications hours later that the summer meet will be held as planned in Marikina in May.

“We reiterate that the Palarong Pambansa is not included in the list since it will officially open by May this year,” said the DepEd via its official social media sites.

DepEd though has reasons to consider calling off the Palaro since the event usually draws 20,000 to 30,000 participants consisting of athletes, coaches and officials from 17 participating regions.

That is not counting thousands more including spectators.

The Palaro had already suffered a setback when its original host, Occidental Mindoro, was forced to withdraw after its province was devastated by Typhoon Tisoy last December.