SINA veteran para swimmer Ernie Gawilan at para archer Agustina Bantiloc ang magiging flag-bearers ng bansa sa grand outdoor opening ceremony ng 17th Paralympic Games sa Miyerkoles sa heritage-rich Champs-Elysées to Place de la Concorde sa Paris, France.
Ayon kay PH Paralympic team chef de mission Ral Rosario, makakasama nila sa inaugural day parade sina para track and field athletes Jerrold Mangliwan at Cendy Asusano, para swimmer Angel Mae Otom at para taekwondo jin Allain Ganapin.
“We had several discussions about who will be the standard-bearers at the opening ceremony with the coaches and it was decided among us that Ernie and Tina (Bantiloc’s nickname) were the athletes to do it,” pahayag ni Rosario mula sa French capital.
“Gawilan has been a bemedalled national para swimmer and role model for our para athletes over the years while Bantiloc is the country’s first para archer to qualify and represent the country at the Paralympic Games,” paliwanag niya.
Isang dating two-time Olympian at national swimming standout, idinagdag ni Rosario na “the priority, of course, for the parade were our athletes so they can experience this memorable moment in their lives.”
Natutuwa at nagpapasalamat si Bantiloc, 56, dahil isa aniyang karangalan na makasama si Gawilan, gold medalist sa Hangzhou Asian Para Games noong nakaraang taon, sa pagiging flag-bearers ng bansa sa festive opening rites.
“Siyempre proud and happy, of course. Makakatulong nang malaki sa akin,” sabi ni Bantiloc, na magiging unang Filipino athlete na sasalang sa Huwebes sa women’s individual compound event sa Esplanade des Invalides archery range.
Ibinunyag ni Rosario na ang bansa ay orihinal na binigyan ng 15 hanggang 16 slots, sapat para sa buong delegasyon, ng Paris Paralympic Games organizers “but we received a message last Friday that our allotment was down to 10.”
Aniya, ibinigay niya ang kanyang slot habang sina national para coaches Joel Deriada at Tony Ong ng athletics at swimming, ayon sa pagkakasunod, ay nagbigay-daan din upang makasama ang ibang team members sa opening-day festivities
“Nag-give way na kami ni coach Tony sa iba kasi dati na kaming naka-participate sa Paralympic Games parade,” ani Deriada.
