PHL team wins 49 medals in Athens Special Olympics

The Philippines won 49 medals - 21 gold, 13 silver and 15 bronze - in the recently concluded Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens, Greece according to a Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) news release. "Team Philippines won gold medals in athletics, powerlifting, swimming, bocce, and rhythmic gymnastics, while the silver and bronze medals were also won in these five sports events, in addition to bowling and badminton," the DFA said. Special Olympics Philippines president Ma. Theresa Macapagal led the 47-member Philippine delegation, which included 38 intellectually challenged athletes along with their trainers and coaches. The Philippine team participated in seven of the 22 sports in the Special Olympics. They were among the more than 7,000 athletes from 180 countries that competed in the 10-day event. Grammy Award-winning musician Stevie Wonder, Vanessa Williams, Zhang Ziyi, Yao Ming, Nadia Comaneci and Michelle Kwan are among the international celebrities that attended the opening ceremonies. - JVP, GMA News