PSC recommends postponing ASEAN Paragames amid nCoV outbreak

The Philippine Sports Commission has recommended to postpone the 10th ASEAN Paragames scheduled on March 20 to 28 amid the ongoing threat of the novel coronavirus (nCoV) in the Philippines.

A twin event of the Southeast Asian Games, the Paragames was already postponed to March from the original schedule in January.

PSC Chairman Butch Ramirez said they are in discussion with Paralympic Committee of the Philippines (PPC) president Mike Barredo regarding their advice to postpone the biennial paragames.

"I would like to announce that [Barredo] will fly to Thailand to discuss with the Asian Federation," Ramirez said in a press conference on Thursday. The decision to postpone the Paragames is on the hands of the PPC.

Barredo, meanwhile, said they will "consider what is best for everyone" when they conduct their consultation with the Asian Paralympic Sports Federation (APSF) on Friday.

"This is a health issue which is very difficult to determine when it will get worse or get better," he added, saying he will talk as well with the national paralympic committees upon return from his consultation with the APSF.

PSC measures against nCoV

The PSC also postponed some of its scheduled events, such as the National Sports Summit, the Philippine National Games, and Children's Games, as a security measure due to the nCoV. No date has been given yet for the postponed events.

Other activities of athletes such as training abroad will be "played by ear," according to PSC Commissioner Ramon Fernandez. He said that training in other countries with no nCov cases is also a possibility for the athletes.

PSC National Training Director Marc Velasco said they are in close contact with Department of Health to check on the athletes' health status. He said that for now, no athletes are suspected with nCoV. —MGP, GMA News