HAVE you ever wondered how sports can play an important role in integrating societies and a tool for humanitarian development, peace and progress?

As the British diplomatic missions around the world are celebrating the first anniversary of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympics Games, the British Embassy here in Manila, together with Shadowfax Events, SM Aura Premier and the Philippine Sports Association for the Differently-Abled (Philspada), recently hosted the launch of a fun run that honored the nine Filipino Paralympians who competed last year in one of the “greatest Olympics and Paralympics in living memory.”

In the event that I attended at the newly opened SM Aura in Bonifacio Global City, there was a ribbon-cutting ceremony that launched the Paralympics photo exhibit, which will also be shown at various selected SM Malls around Metro Manila. All nine Filipino Paralympians who participated in London last year were present: Marites Burce, Isidro Vildosola, Andy Avellana and Roger Tapia, who competed in athletics; Achelle Guion, Agustin Kitan and Adeline Ancheta, who vied in powerlifting; Josephine Medina in table tennis; and Beatriza Ma. Roble in swimming. The exhibit was meant to honor and to showcase the same nine athletes who will also be representing the Philippines in the Paralympic Games in Rio 2016.

One of the highlights of the event was the turning over of a symbolic check amounting to P120,000 by British Embassy Charge d’Affaires Trevor Lewis and Shadowfax Events General Manager Lawrence Plata to Philspada Chairman Mike Barredo and Philspada President Luis Jose Arellano. The amount, collected from races held in January this year and December last year, will help defray the expenses for the training of the Paralympians.

The event, which attracted media, non-governmental organizations, sports federations, development agencies, athletes and people from the private sector, as well as persons with disabilities, was highlighted in the keynote address by Lewis.

In his speech, Lewis congratulated the Filipino Paralympians who represented the Philippines in the London 2012 Paralympics, saying that these Filipino Paralympians have traits, which every athlete must possess, regardless of their abilities, and these traits are courage, perseverance and the indomitable spirit. He added that these Filipinos who competed in London truly gave credit to the Philippines. Though the athletes have not yet garnered any medals for the country, it is a goal to be desired and the Paralympians are working hard to attain medals in their next competition in 2016 Rio Summer Olympics in Brazil.

Lewis said the blueprint of the London 2012 Games is to help promote para-sports into the mainstream, putting them on equal footing with traditional sporting activities. He added that London 2012 has changed attitudes to people with disabilities, focusing on their abilities rather than dwelling on their physical limitations. He said that promoting the British values, inclusion, equality and diversity are what the London 2012 Games espouses. The London 2012 design, and structure of the buildings, transportation, and open and public spaces were consulted with an advisory group focused on people with disability.

It seems as though that Great Britain is truly making sports as an important investment for the present, as well as the future, and the London legacy, which started last year, promoted the fundamental right of the human being to sports and making it a tool to boost morale and empowerment of any individual, even with disability.

Owing to the extensive media coverage of the Games, the London Legacy 2012 also made an impact to the attitudes toward disabled people. The Games created a fresh spirit of volunteerism among communities, as well, thus making this legacy more inclusive and accessible to everyone—as sports always possess a unique nature for mobilization and participation.

Barredo, as he introduced the Paralympians, said Philspada hopes that the spirit of the London 2012 Games will move forward to carry on to Rio and beyond and will give undivided attention to the Olympics and the Paralympics. He said that “Para-athletes work as hard, or if not even more, as our able-bodied counterparts, to give pride to our country, so we hope to see them enjoy the same treatment.”

Indeed, according to the Charter of the United Nations, sports play a pertinent role as a promoter of social integration and economic development in various geo-political and cultural contexts. It is through sports that social ties and networks are fostered and strengthened, and, if given the right direction, sports can be an important tool to promote ideals of peace, camaraderie, fraternity, tolerance, respect, non-violence and justice. After all, we may not speak the same language, but sportsmanship and athletic competitions have the same rules and ideals regardless of nationality and, as it now becomes more clear, physical abilities.

* * *

Another event, Run for Pinoy Glory 2013—A Gift to Uur Filipino Paralympians, will be held at the Camp Aguinaldo Grandstand in Quezon City on September 8.

________________________________________

In Photo: Author Geraldine Dayang-Fernando, British Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Trevor Lewis, Philspada President Jose Luis Arellano (seated), New Vois Association of the Philippines President Emer Rojas and wife Violet.