Philippines at the 2008 Summer Paralympics

Infobox Paralympics Philippines
games=2008 Summer
competitors= 3
sports= 2
flagbearer= Adeline Dumapong (opening) [ [http://www.paralympic.org/release/Main_Sections_Menu/News/Press_Releases/Flagbearers_List_Opening_Ceremony_Final_5_Sept1.pdf Opening Ceremony - Flagbearers' List] , International Paralympic Committee, September 6, 2008.] Pedro Sollique (closing) [ [http://www.paralympic.org/release/Main_Sections_Menu/News/Press_Releases/Flag_Bearers_Beijing_2008.pdf Closing Ceremony - Flagbearers' List] , International Paralympic Committee, September 17, 2008.]
officials=
rank= -

The Philippines competed at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing and Qingdao, China. The country was represented by three athletes, sailors Pedro Sollique and Cherry Pinpin in the 2-person keelboat event, sailing [ [http://www.sailing.org/24411.php "National Line Up For 2008 Paralympic Sailing Competition"] , International Association for Disabled Sailing, July 16, 2008] and Adeline Dumapong for powerlifting. The Philippine Paralympic delegation was headed by the IPC-recognized NPC, PHILSPADA, with support from the Philippine Sports Commission and the POC.

Powerlifting

;Women

Sailing

thumb|150px|left|The SKUD 18 - a highly technical, high performance keelboat. Photo: Jackie Kay, Sailability World. Boat Designers: Chris Mitchell and Julian BethwaiteThe Philippines first Paralympic Sailing Team competed on the 2-person keelboat (SKUD 18), which also made its official debut in the Paralympics. The only Paralympic class keelboat with a spinnaker, was, for this event, emblazoned with the national flag of each country. Pedro Sollique, paraw fisherman from Virac, Catanduanes was SKUD helm while crew Cherry Pinpin from Quezon City trimmed sails and flew the spinnaker. The Philippine flag spinnaker was a generous, timely donation by an anonymous Australian businessman.

The Sailing competition of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games took place on the Yellow Sea, Qingdao, from September 8 to September 13. The Qingdao International Sailing Centre served as measuring and decal application area, boat workspace, dock, public viewing areas and awards area. Qingdao, in eastern Shandong province, is a seaside sailing city famous for it's Tsingtao Beer, seafood and white sand beaches, is an hour's flight SE of Beijing. The rest of the Qingdao-based team was composed of Philippine Sailing Association National Coach Rico Albeso plus PHI Sailing team manager and Sailability Philippines President, Claudio Altura.

The sailors had qualified the Philippines for the Paralympics during the IFDS Two-Person Keelboat World Championship held March 2008, in Singapore. The SKUD 18 has already been approved for competition in the London 2012 Paralympics. A good reason for the Philippines to seriously consider SKUD purchase for a better shot at future Paralympic medals.

CAN - Race cancelled

ee also

*2008 Summer Paralympics
*Philippines at the Paralympics
*Philippines at the 2008 Summer Olympics

External links

* [http://www.sailing2008.org/content/2008-09/08/content_7918420.htm Qingdao 2008 Paralympic Games (Sailing Official Site)]
* [http://www.sailing.org/Paralympic-Games.php IFDS Paralympic Sailing Competition (Official Site)]
* [http://en.beijing2008.com/83/66/column211716683.shtml Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games (Official Site)]
* [http://www.paralympic.org International Paralympic Committee]
* [http://www.accessclass.org/default.asp?Page=18384&MenuID=Classes/13153/0/ International Access Class Org - SKUD 18]
* [http://www.sailability.org/ Sailability World]

References