The 10th ASEAN Para Games Philippines 2020, scheduled to commence early January 2020, will see a record participation of more than 1,500 athletes, making it the biggest ever in the 19- year history of the Games.
Following the conclusion of a three-day Pre-Delegation Registration meeting (Pre-DRM) jointly conducted by governing body ASEAN Para Sports Federation (APSF) and the Philippines ASEAN Para Games Organising Committee (PHILAPGOC) in Manila on 15 December 2019, a total of 1,533 athletes and 829 officials from all 11 contingents have been confirmed for the 10th edition of the Games.
Philippines is staging the Games for the second time after a gap of 14 years; last time they hosted the third edition in Manila in 2005. The Games will be held in three clusters namely the New Clark City, Subic and Manila from 18 to 24 January. 2020.
The total athletes registered for the Philippines 2020 Games surpassed the number of athletes (1,452) who participated in the last Games in Kuala Lumpur in 2017. All 11 member countries have confirmed their entries in the 2020 regional Para Games which will see 16 sports contested while Para Obstacle Course was added in as a demonstration sport.
The sports lined-up for Philippines 2020 include Archery, Para Athletics, Badminton, Boccia, Chess, Cycling, CP Football, Goalball, Judo, Para Powerlifting, Para-Swimming, Tenpin Bowling, Table Tennis, Para Triathlon, Sitting-Volleyball and Wheelchair Basketball.
Para Athletics formed the highest number of participation with 316 athletes followed by Para Swimming (196), Table Tennis (144), Tenpin Bowling (104), Wheelchair Basketball (97) Badminton (96), Chess (85), Para Powerlifting (83) Goalball (82), CP Football (78), Volleyball Sitting (79), Archery (54), Boccia (51), Para-Cycling (30), Judo (28) and Para Triathlon (20).
The last edition in Kuala Lumpur saw 16 sports contested while 15 sports were featured in Singapore 2015. Myanmar had 12 sports in 2014 while 11 sports were contested in Solo (Indonesia) 2011.
Thailand to field biggest contingent
Thailand, which came in third overall in the last Games, formed the biggest number of athletes with 317 athletes and 188 officials registered in their contingent while Indonesia, the reigning champion, is sending the second-biggest contingent of 306 athletes.
Host Philippines, fifth overall behind Vietnam in the 2017 Kuala Lumpur Games, will parade the third largest contingent of 274 athletes and 78 officials followed by 2017 runner-up Malaysia which has confirmed a total of 215 athletes.
Vietnam will be represented by 109 athletes followed by Myanmar (108), Cambodia (76), Singapore (61) Laos (31), Brunei (26). Timor Leste will be sending the smallest contingent of 10 athletes.
Contingents will start arriving in Manila from 14 January 2020 with classification process scheduled to take place for three days from 15 to 17 January 2020.
The Philippines Games 2020 is considered to an important platform for athletes as the Games form part of the qualification process for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
