Bibida sina 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympic table tennis bronze medalist Josephine Medina at Singapore World Para Swimming Series winner Ernie Gawilan sa 7th Philippine National Para Games na bubuksan ngayong araw sa Bulacan Sports Complex.
Higit 1,010 atleta mula sa 72 local government units ang sasali sa apat na araw na sports meet kung saan tampok ang archery, para athletics, para swimming, chess, judo, table tennis, boccia, para powerlifting, goalball, sitting volleyball, badminton, tenpin bowling, at wheelchair basketball. Demo sport naman pa lang ang cycling.
Sa opening ceremony, hinikayat ni Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William “Butch” Ramirez ang mga para athlete na huwag sumuko sa kanilang mga pangarap at gamitin ang sport para maabot ang mga ito.
“It is always a special moment for me to see our para athletes flourish in the sport that they love and discover the golden gift in them,” ayon sa PSC chief.
Kasama niya sa okasyon sina PSC Commissioner Arnold Agustin at Philippine Paralympic Committee President Michael Barredo.
Nagpasalamat naman si Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado sa PSC at PPC dahil sa pagpili sa lugar para pagdausan ng palaro.
“The province of Bulacan is grateful to the PSC and PPC for giving us the opportunity to host this sporting event for our para athletes. Throughout the games, we would like to show everyone that our venues are completely differently-abled friendly,” ayon sa gobernador. (Ray Mark Patriarca)