Asean Para Games gets OK, goes ‘Solo’

FILE – The Philippine delegation during 9th ASEAN Para Games opening ceremony last Sunday, September 17th. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/ Janneth Tenorio

MANILA, Philippines–Team Philippines will now lay the groundwork for the Asean Para Games (APG) in earnest after Indonesia got the nod to host the event.

The Asean Para Sports Federation has officially given its blessing to Indonesia to stage the 11th Asean Para Games on July 23 to 30 after the sportsfest featuring the best para athletes in Southeast Asia was shelved twice previously.

“This is very important to us, because the Asean Para Games will serve as the country’s buildup to the coming Asian Para Games,’’ said Philippine Paralympic Committee president Michael Barredo.

Hangzhou, China, will host the 2022 Asian Para Games in October, less than three months after the Asean version in Indonesia.

Barredo said they are working on sending at least 200 para athletes, but the budget will play a crucial role on the final size of the delegation, including the coaches, officials and staff. The Philippine Sports Commission is the biggest financial backer of Filipino para athletes.

With a total of 14 sports on the calendar, the Asean Para Games will be held in the Indonesian city of Solo, which hosted the Games back in 2011.

Indonesia, whose ban from hosting international sports events was lifted by the World Anti-Doping Agency, came to the APG’s rescue following cancellations in 2020 in Manila and 2021 in Hanoi.