PH Participation in 1st Winter Children of Asia Games Brings Filipinos, Russians Closer in Friendship, Sports
Philippine junior ladies figure skaters Charmaine Skye Chua (left) and Dianne Gabrielle Panlilio (right) together with Philippine Skating Union Manager and Team Leader Christopher R. Martin (center) pose with one of the mascots of the 1st Winter Children of Asia Games after the girls’ Short Program performance on 13 February 2019. (C. Alpay photo)
MOSCOW 21 February 2019 – The Philippine delegation composed of two junior ladies figure skaters and four speed skaters recently participated in the first Winter Children of Asia Games held in the city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, located in the island of Sakhalin in the far eastern corner of Russia on 9 to 16 February 2019.
The figure skating team was composed of Dianne Gabrielle Panlilio and Charmaine Skye Chua, both medalists in international competitions. The short track speed skating team was composed of Xsandrie Viande R. Guimba, Lora Isabelle R. Sanchez, Sofia B. Rabago, and Anthea Lois P. De Guzman, all of whom being medalists in national-level competitions.
The athletes were accompanied by Philippine Sports Commissioner (PSC) Commissioner Celia Kira, Philippine Skating Union’s Christopher Martine of the, their coaches, and parents. The Philippine Embassy in Moscow also sent Third Secretary and Vice Consul Catherine Alpay to give support to the Philippine delegation.
“We are very thankful to [CAGIC] President Dmitry Glushko for inviting the Philippines to the first Winter Children of Asia Games and we hope to explore more opportunities for cooperation with them,” Commissioner Kiram said.
She further relayed that she and the Children of Asia Games International Committee (CAGIC), the organizers of the Winter Children of Asia Games, had close cooperation for several years. In July of 2016, the Philippine sent a delegation of 26 young outstanding athletes who participated in the sixth Children of Asia International Sports Festival held in Yakutsk, Russia.
CAGIC President Glushko invited the PSC to send athletes to train in Sakhalin for winter sports such as figure skating and speed skating. Mr. Glushko observed that the young Philippine athletes who participated in Children of Asia Games demonstrated good training and a purpose-driven attitude to achieve in their sport. He shared his hope that there would be further cooperation between Philippines and Russia in the realm of sports.
“Sports is an area of cooperation that produces goodwill and strengthens people-to-people relations between Filipinos and Russians. The Philippine Embassy fully supports the Philippine Sports Commission in its efforts to send our young and talented athletes to competitions and training workshops in Russia. We are also thankful to the Sakhalin government and the Children of Asia Games International Committee for their generous hospitality to the Philippine delegation during the Winter Children of Asia Games,” Ambassador to Russia Carlos D. Sorreta said. END
(From left) Sports Commissioner Dr. Celia Kiram, Children of Asia Games International Committee President Dr. Dmitry Glushko, Philippine Skating Union Director and Team Manager Christopher Martin, and Philippine Embassy in Moscow Third Secretary and Vice Consul Catherine Alpay watch the games together and cheer for the Philippine team during the Short Program of the Junior Ladies figure skating competition on 13 February 2019. (C. Alpay photo)
For more information, visit www.moscowpe.dfa.gov.ph, or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinRussia/.