Sports is my teacher

MANILA, Philippines - As a young Ifugao growing up in an institution for children with disabilities, sports was sort of an escape for me. As it turned out, it has become more to me than that. Sports is my teacher. The lessons that I have learned from it have been applicable to other areas of my life – persistence, resilience, teamwork and more.

Sports has also paved the way for me to do my country proud in my own little way. But the medals that I have gained along the way are just the icing on the cake of unforgettable life experiences that sports has given me. I hope that my experiences and achievements will inspire other persons with disabilities to make a difference.

I look forward to competing in the London Paralympic Games. It will be my fourth time competing in the Games, and may very well be my last as I plan to retire in 2014.

Every host country brings its own unique flavor to the Games, and in London I expect no less than a high level of competition that will break and set many records.

But the Paralympics are also about making new friends and just revelling in the fun and excitement that the Games are sure to bring.

The London Paralympics offers a unique opportunity to bring about a change in the way people think, feel and behave towards disability and disability sport. My personal goal is to use sports as an avenue for raising awareness on the plight of persons with disabilities, and to eventually gain acceptance and equality. Being into sports can be the first step towards being in the mainstream of society.

I am already happy that the International Paralympic Committee has achieved the recognition it has now and I hope that its identity and standing will be maintained or strengthened in the next decade.

Locally, though, I hope that disability sports will gain equal acceptance and recognition by the law and by my fellow Filipinos. I hope that in the near future athletes with disabilities will not be looked upon as “outreach” sports program beneficiaries but worthy athletes deserving of equal support and respect.

My ambition for my country is to see within ten years the fruition of all the disability rights being discussed at present. I would also like to see Filipinos with disabilities – ourselves – taking more part in nation building and achieving our potential.

Adeline Dumapong-Ancheta made history as the first Filipino Paralympic medallist, winning a bronze in women’s weightlifting at the 2000 Sydney Paralympics.