THE Philippine Sports Commission yesterday expressed confidence  the country might be able to win its first-ever gold medal in the Paralympic Games this year in London.

Speaking as main guest of honor in the opening ceremonies of the country’s first National Paralympics at the Marikina Sports Park, PSC Commissioner Akiko Thomson-Guevarra said that differently-abled athletes have a strong chance of bringing home a gold medal when the Games are staged in August.

“There is a possibility that the country’s first gold medal in the Olympics will come from you guys,” said Thomson-Guevara. “Despite the limitations you have, you continue to bring pride to the country and continue to inspire us all.”

A bronze medal courtesy of Adeline Ancheta in power-lifting in the 2000 Sydney Games was the best performance by any Filipino athlete on record in the Paralympics.

Gold medals in nine events -- athletics, swimming, table tennis, power-lifting, badminton, tenpin bowling, chess, goalball and wheelchair basketball -- are being contested in the local sportsfest.

Wheelchair tennis, cycling and boccia, meanwhile, will be played as demonstration sports.

More than 550 athletes from all over the country registered for the four-day meet.

Also present in the simple opening rites were PSC commissioner Jose Luis Gomez, Philippine Sports Association for the Differently Abled-National Paralympics Committee of the Philippines chairman Michael Barredo, Philspada-NPC Phils secretary-general Carlos Weber Jr., National Council on Disability Affairs  OIC Matt Lee Jr., DILG representative Mr. Cesar Montances, DepEd assistant secretary Tonisito Umali, Marikina Sports Park administrator Dr. Angelito Llabres and Marikina City administrator Victoriano Sabiniano, who represented for Marikina City Mayor Del De Guzman.