Philippine sports officials explore dedicated para-athlete training centre
Officials have sought Asian Paralympic Committee guidance on a possible facility, with development targeted for 2027.
The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and Philippine Paralympic Committee (PPC) are exploring a dedicated training centre for Filipino athletes with disabilities, seeking advice from the Asian Paralympic Committee on the possible project.
PSC chairman Patrick Gregorio said discussions with Asian Paralympic Committee president Majid Rashed were among his reasons for travelling to Nagoya, Japan. Gregorio said he wanted to help develop the facility in 2027, referring to similar efforts for taekwondo, football and baseball.
PPC president Mike Barredo said the centre, if it goes ahead, would coincide with the Philippine para movement’s 30th anniversary. He said leaving such a facility as a legacy would allow him to retire with peace of mind.
Both officials praised the Philippine team after it placed 17th at the fifth Asian Para Games in Nagoya, taking 2 gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze medals. The Philippines had finished ninth in Hangzhou three years earlier, although chess, which supplied most of its medals there, was omitted from the Nagoya programme.
