ASEAN Para Sports meet in Manila gets big boost from International Paralympic Head

Manila, Philippines – Preparations for the 10th ASEAN Para Games that will be hosted by the Philipines in January 2020 went full swing last June 8, 2018 at Shangri-la Hotel the Fort with the meeting of the ASEAN Para Sports Federation (APSF) that was attended by Heads of National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) from the 11 member countries of Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Myanmar, Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Timor Leste and the Philippines.

Andrew Parsons, current president of the International Paralympic Committee, gives a big boost to the event as his Manila visit coincides with the conduct of the federation meeting. Parsons is here to help promote the Philippine paralympic movement, which embraces the IPC vision to enable para athletes to achieve sporting excellence, and inspire and excite the world.

At the top of the agenda is iddentification of the sports to be played in the 10th ASEAN Para Games (APG) that will be held in January 2020, after the 30th Southeast Asian Games that will also be hosted by the Philippines in December 2019.

A total of 16 sports were played in the 9th APG held in Malaysia in 2017. 

• Boccia
• Chess
• Cerebral Palsy Football
• Football 5-A-Side
• Goalball
• Para Archery
• Para Athletics
• Para Badminton
• Para Cycling
• Para Powerlifting
• Para Swimming
• Para Table Tennis
• Sitting Volleyball
• Tenpin Bowling
• Wheelchair Basketball
• Wheelchair Tennis

Participants in the APG include athletes with physical, vision, and intellectualdisabilities. The ASEAN Para Games under the regulation of the ASEAN Para Sports Federation (APSF) while the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the Asian Paralympic Committee lend technical and classification assistance when needed.

10th ASEAN Para Games 2019 (List of Paralympic Sports to choose from)

1. AR       ARCHERY
2. AT        ATHLETICS
3. BA        BADMINTON
4. BO       BOCCIA
5. CH       CHESS
6. CY       CYCLING
7. F5        FOOTBALL 5-a-side
8. F7        FOOTBALL 5-a-side
9. GB       GOALBALL
10. JU       JUDO
11. PO      POWERLIFTING
12. SA       SAILING
13. SH       SHOOTING
14. SW       SWIMMING
15. TB       TENPIN BOWLING
16. TT       TABLE TENNIS
17. VS       VOLLY-SITTING
18. WB      WC-BASKETBALL
19. WD      WC DANCE SPORT
20. WF       WC-FENCING
21. WR       WC-RUGBY
22. WT       WC-TENNIS

The Para Games, held every two years, is traditionally hosted by the country where the Southeast Asian Games are held. It is supported by the Philippin sports Commission.

Michael Barredo, Philippine Paralympic Committee President, said the June meeting in Manila set the preparations for the ASEAN Para Games in motion and Parsons' presence here on a visit will boost efforts currently underway for the coming Para Games. This is the second time that the Philippines is hosting the ASEAN Para Games since 2005.

Foreign Affairs SecretaryAlan Peter Cayetano, who is ASEAN Para Games Organizing Committee Chairman, announced that the games will be held in three separate hubs located in Metro Manila, Clark and Subic. An international sports complex is now under construction in Clark where a 20,000-seat stadium is rising. An aquatic center that meets Olympic standards is also in the works.

10 Year Calendar of International Sports Events

• Asian Para Games 2018               -    Jakarta, Indonesia
• Winter Paralympics 2018             -   Pyeongchang, South Korea
• 10th ASEAN Para Games 2019   -   Philippines
• Paralympic Games 2020              -   Tokyo, Japan
• 11th ASEAN Para Games 2021    -   TBA
• Asian Youth Para Games 2021    -   TBA
• Asian Para Games 2022               -   Hangzhou, China
• Winter Paralympics 2022            -   Beijing, China
• 12th ASEAN Para Games 2023   -   TBA
• Paralympic Games 2024              -   Paris, France
• Asian Para Games 2026               -   Nagoya, Japan