Funding constraints has compelled the Philippine Sports Commission to ask organizers of the 10th ASEAN Paragames to reschedule it to March next year.
Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William Ramirez said the budget needed for the Paragames are won’t be available until then.
Ramirez said around P400 million that the government sports agency allocated to the ParaGames, was infused into the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee’s efforts to manage the recently concluded biennial meet.
“Tumulong tayo sa PHISGOC in their expenses for the SEA Games. And that is also the reason why we are advising the organizers of the ParaGames to move it to March,” said Ramirez.
Philippine Paralympic Committee President Michael Barredo confirmed that the 10th ASEAN ParaGames will be rescheduled to March from its original date of January 18 to 25, 2020.
The ParaGames, which is a twin-event of the SEA Games, is usually held one month after it is finished.
“While we have made every effort to prepare the Games in the past one and a half years, matters well beyond our control are compelling us to reschedule the event,” PPC president Mike Barredo.
In moving it to March, Barredo said they will be able “to be able to have enough time for financial and logistical matters to be settled.”
The change in schedule has already been endorsed to the ASEAN Para Sports Federation.
Sixteen sports disciplines are calendared in the Paragames, namely archery, athletics, badminton, boccia, chess, cycling, football, goalball, judo, powerlifting, swimming, 10-pin bowling, table tennis, sitting volleyball, wheelchair basketball and para triathlon.
Obstacle course race has been added as a demonstration sport.