No Boxers for RP Team in World Special Olympics
By Alex P. Vidal
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 26 Sep 2007
When the 80-athlete Philippine contingent leaves for Shanghai, China on September 28 to participate in the 12th World Special Olympics Summer Games on Oct. 2-11, there will be no athletes in boxing and other combat events.
Alexander P. Babst, national executive director of the Special Olympics Philippines and a father of a special child, said organizers of the World Special Olympics did not include contact sports as the objective of the Games is to give all intellectually challenged athletes in the world to show their prowess in athletics, not to harm their fellowmen.
The program was patterned after the way that regular World Olympics in Beijing, China is being handled.
"There is one difference --- the policy of exclusion. In the regular competition, there are three medals --- gold, silver and bronze. In the Special Olympics, the athletes are placed in divisions that encourage their ability to perform. "That is why athletes are able to show their best," he said. "It is pure sports. Pure amateurism"
The following are Iloilo-based athletes who will join the RP Team and their respective events:
Tanya B. Denamarca, 23, silver medalist (50-meter butterfly) in the 1999 World Summer Games in North Carolina, will compete in the 4X50-m freestyle relay, 50-m butterfly and 50-m breaststroke in Shanghai.
Carmelle Rose Villaruel, 17, gold medalist (50-m freestyle and 50-m breaststroke) in the 2006 National Special Olympics, will participate in the 4x50-m frees style relay; 50-m butterfly; and 50-m breaststroke.
Nelson N. Magahum, gold medalist (50-m breaststroke and 50-freestlye) in the 4th Singapore National Special Olympics, will compete in the same events.
Julius Granada, 20, gold medalist (50-m backstroke) and silver medalist (50-m relay) in the 2006 National Special Olympics, will try his luck in the same events.
Louie John Decolongon, 19, bowling silver medalist in the 2006 National Special Olympics, will take part in the combination all lifts; bench press; dead lift; and squat lift.
Christine Joy Galura is the Philippines' lone entry in Gymnastics.
Christine Joy R. Galura, 15, also bowling gold medalist in the 2006 National Special Olympics, will be the country's sole entry in the gymnastics.
Nemia Yao, 24, table tennis silver medalist in the 1997 4th Singapore National Special Olympics, will compete in the singles event and mixed doubles together with Pama, 32, who was gold medalist in Singapore and North Carolina Games.
They will join the country's largest ever delegation in the Games to be participated by 7,000 athletes from 165 countries with a theme: "Let me win but if I can not win, let me be brave in the attempt."
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Alex P. Vidal.
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