ASEAN Paragames postponed indefinitely due to coronavirus outbreak

The 10th ASEAN Paragrames has been postponed indefinitely due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, Philippine Sports Commission chief of staff Marc Velasco confirmed on Thursday.

Paralympic Committee of the Philippines president Mike Barredo flew to Thailand to consult with the ASEAN Para Sports Federation on how to handle the Games amid the health emergency.

The PSC recommended last week that the event be postponed as the number of cases and deaths due to the virus increased.

"We advised 'yong organizers if they could do indefinite rescheduling, meaning hindi kami nag-define ng kung kailan kasi the situation is very fluid eh. 'Di natin alam baka bukas okay na or the next few weeks," Velasco told GMA News Online.

The APSF must be notified 60 days in advance if the event will push through, he added.

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

The National Sports Summit and the Philippine National Games were also postponed by the PSC. —Justin Kenneth Carandang/MGP, GMA News