Macau at the 2012 Summer Paralympics
{{good article}}
{{infobox country at games
| NPC = MAC
| NPCname = Associação Recreativa dos Deficientes de Macau
| games = Summer Paralympics
| year = 2012
| flagcaption =
| oldcode =
| website =
| location = London
| competitors = 2
| sports = 2
| flagbearer = In I Lao
| rank =
| gold = 0
| silver = 0
| bronze = 0
| officials =
| appearances = auto
| app_begin_year = 1988
| app_end_year =
| summerappearances =
| winterappearances =
| seealso =
}}
Macau sent a delegation to participate in the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London, United Kingdom, from 29 August to 9 September 2012. This was the seventh appearance at a Summer Paralympic Games for the territory since its debut at the 1988 Summer Paralympics. A high jumper and a wheelchair fencer were chosen to represent Macau in London after the nation qualified one athlete by merit and the other by invitation. Wheelchair fencer In I Lao was nominated to be the territory's flag bearer for the opening ceremony. At the Paralympics, Lao came ninth in the group rounds of both the women's individual foil A and the women's individual épée A tournaments while high jumper Hio Sam Tong also finished in ninth in the men's long jump F20 event.
{{TOC limit|2}}
Background
Macau, a Special Administrative Region of China since December 1999,{{cite encyclopedia|title=Macau – History, Geography & Map|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Macau-administrative-region-China|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Britannica|access-date=28 September 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909030636/https://www.britannica.com/place/Macau-administrative-region-China|archive-date=9 September 2018|df=dmy-all}} first joined the Paralympic movement at the 1988 Summer Paralympics in Seoul, South Korea.{{Cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/sdms4/hira/web/country/macau|title=Macau at the Summer Paralympics|publisher=International Paralympic Committee|archive-url=https://archive.today/20180928161752/https://www.paralympic.org/sdms/hira/web/country/macau|archive-date=28 September 2018|url-status=live|access-date=28 September 2018}} Macau does not compete in the Olympic Games under its own flag as the territory's National Olympic Committee is not recognised by the International Olympic Committee,{{cite news|title=Macau não deve abrir mão de sonho olímpico, defende Manuel Silvério|trans-title=Macau should not give up an Olympic dream, defends Manuel Silvério|work=Ponto Final|language=pt|date=19 September 2016}} but has entered some international events such as the Asian Games as a separate entity.{{cite web|url=http://www.macauolympic.org/WebContext1.aspx?ID=3&TYPE=1|title=關於中國澳門體育暨奧林匹克委員會|date=29 May 2013|publisher=Sports and Olympic Committee of Macau, China|language=zh|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928160914/http://www.macauolympic.org/WebContext1.aspx?ID=3&TYPE=1|archive-date=28 September 2018|url-status=live|access-date=28 September 2018}} The territory has participated in every Summer Paralympics since, but has never participated in the Winter Paralympics. Macau has yet to win any medals at the Paralympic Games. The 2012 London Games was the territory's seventh appearance at a Summer Paralympics,{{cite web|title=Macao, China|url=http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/country/macao/profile/index.html|publisher=London 2012|access-date=4 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830024759/http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/country/macao/profile/index.html|archive-date=30 August 2012|url-status=dead}} and were held from 29 August to 9 September 2012 with a total of 4,237 athletes representing 164 National Paralympic Committees.{{Cite web|date=3 December 2018|title=Transforming Lives: London 2012 employment legacy|url=https://www.paralympic.org/news/transforming-lives-london-2012-employment-legacy|access-date=17 March 2021|publisher=International Paralympic Committee|archive-date=23 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423083618/https://www.paralympic.org/news/transforming-lives-london-2012-employment-legacy|url-status=live}}
Long jumper Hio Sam Tong and wheelchair fencer In I Lao were sent by Macau to compete in the London Paralympics.{{cite web|title=Jogos Paralímpicos Londres 2012|trans-title=London 2012 Paralympic Games|url=https://www.sport.gov.mo/pt/macaosport/type/show/id/1019|publisher=Sports Bureau of Macao SAR Government|language=pt|date=2012|volume=3|access-date=4 March 2021|archive-date=14 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814141153/https://www.sport.gov.mo/pt/macaosport/type/show/id/1019|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Sports delegation encourages Macau Paralympic athletes|url=https://macaudailytimes.com.mo/files/pdf2012/1655-2012-09-03.pdf|work=Macau Daily Times|date=3 September 2012|access-date=4 March 2021|page=7|archive-date=27 November 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241127053639/https://macaudailytimes.com.mo/files/pdf2012/1655-2012-09-03.pdf|url-status=live}} Both athletes trained under the Associação Recreativa dos Deficientes de Macau president António Fernandes.{{Cite journal|date=22 February 2012|title=Paralímpicos sem debate|trans-title=Paralympics without debate|url=https://issuu.com/hojemacau/docs/hm-22-2-12|journal=Hoje Macau|language=pt|issue=2555|pages=15|access-date=4 March 2021|via=Issuu|archive-date=17 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210317070538/https://issuu.com/hojemacau/docs/hm-22-2-12|url-status=live}} The delegation was made up of nine members,{{cite news|last=Juan|first=Lin|date=7 August 2012|title=澳门派两名运动员参加残奥会 特区支持残体发展|language=Chinese|trans-title=Macau sends two athletes to participate in the Paralympic Special Zone to support the development of the disabled|publisher=Sohu|agency=Xinhua News Agency|url=http://2012.sohu.com/20120807/n350093248.shtml|access-date=4 March 2021|archive-date=17 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210317070536/https://sports.sohu.com/upload/SportsIndex090121/WebCalendar.js|url-status=live}} including the two competing athletes, Iong Kong Io, the Social Welfare Bureau president and the Macau Sport Development Board president José Tavares. They travelled to London on 25 August and returned to Macau on 10 September.{{cite news |last=Qiang |first=Mao |date=26 August 2012 |title=澳门体育代表团出发参加"2012伦敦残奥会" |trans-title=Macau Sports Delegation Departs to Participate in the "2012 London Paralympic Games" |url=http://rtgb.cnr.cn/huaxiazs/gangao/201208/t20120826_510680143.shtml |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250206080430/https://rtgb.cnr.cn/huaxiazs/gangao/201208/t20120826_510680143.shtml |archive-date=6 February 2025 |access-date=4 March 2021 |publisher=China National Radio |language=Chinese}}{{cite news|title=Dois atletas vão representar Macau nos Jogos Paralímpicos|trans-title=Two athletes will represent Macau at the Paralympic Games|url=https://desporto.sapo.pt/jogos-olimpicos-2012/artigos/dois-atletas-vao-representar-macau-nos-jogos-paralimpicos|publisher=SAPO|language=pt|date=7 August 2012|access-date=4 March 2021|archive-date=17 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210317070553/https://desporto.sapo.pt/jogos-olimpicos-2012/artigos/dois-atletas-vao-representar-macau-nos-jogos-paralimpicos|url-status=live}} The Macau Sports Institute established an observation group to support and encourage the athletes and gave financing to the delegation. Lao was selected to be the flag bearer for Macau at the parade of nations during the opening ceremony.{{Cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/news/list-opening-ceremony-flag-bearers|title=List of Opening Ceremony flag bearers|date=29 August 2012|publisher=International Paralympic Committee|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525204709/https://www.paralympic.org/news/list-opening-ceremony-flag-bearers|archive-date=25 May 2019|access-date=27 July 2019}}
Disability classification
{{main|Disability sport classification}}
Every participant at the Paralympics has their disability grouped into one of five disability categories; amputation, the condition may be congenital or sustained through injury or illness; cerebral palsy; wheelchair athletes, there is often overlap between this and other categories; visual impairment, including blindness; Les autres, any physical disability that does not fall strictly under one of the other categories, for example dwarfism or multiple sclerosis.{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/09/03/2354016.htm?site=paralympics/2008|title=Paralympics categories explained|last=McGarry|first=Andrew|date=3 September 2008|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080912225056/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/09/03/2354016.htm?site=paralympics%2F2008|archive-date=12 September 2008|url-status=dead|access-date=25 December 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics2000/paralympics/959701.stm|title=Making sense of the categories|date=6 October 2000|access-date=25 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528052125/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics2000/paralympics/959701.stm|archive-date=28 May 2008|url-status=live|publisher=BBC Sport}} Each Paralympic sport then has its own classifications, dependent upon the specific physical demands of competition. Events are given a code, made of numbers and letters, describing the type of event and classification of the athletes competing. Some sports, such as athletics, divide athletes by both the category and severity of their disabilities, other sports, for example swimming, group competitors from different categories together, the only separation being based on the severity of the disability.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/disability_sport/7586684.stm|title=A-Z of Paralympic classification|date=28 August 2008|access-date=25 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301172843/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/disability_sport/7586684.stm|archive-date=1 March 2009|url-status=live|publisher=BBC Sport}}
Athletics
{{main|Athletics at the 2012 Summer Paralympics}}
Hio Sam Tong was 27 years old at the time of the London Games.{{Cite web|title=Hio Sam Tong|url=http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/athlete/tong-hio-sam-5510968/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120916201912/http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/athlete/tong-hio-sam-5510968/|archive-date=16 September 2012|access-date=4 March 2021|publisher=London 2012}} He was taking part in his first major international sporting competition since his para-athletics international debut in 2000. Hio has an intellectual impairment and is classified T20/F20. He took up para-athletics in Macau in 1999 after being recommended to the sport by a teacher of his.{{cite web|title=Tong Hio Sam|url=http://ipc.infostradasports.com/asp/lib/theasp.asp?pageid=8937&sportid=513&personid=1066353&wintergames=-1|publisher=International Paralympic Committee|access-date=4 March 2021|archive-date=28 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928165800/http://ipc.infostradasports.com/asp/lib/TheASP.asp?pageid=8937&sportid=513&personid=1066353&WinterGames=-1|url-status=live}} Hio received an invitation from event organisers to participate at the Paralympics.{{Cite news|last=Galinha|first=Pedro|date=8 August 2012|title=Passaporte para dois|language=pt|trans-title=Passport for two|work=Ponto Final}} On the evening of 4 September 2012, he competed in the men's long jump F20 competition, which was held at the Olympic Stadium. He recorded a season best mark of {{Convert|4.63|m|ft}} on the first of three attempts. Because he did not have one of the best eight distances in his first three jumps, Tong took no further part in the event, coming ninth overall.{{cite web|title=Men's Long Jump – F20|url=http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/athletics/event/men-long-jump-f20/index.html|publisher=London 2012|access-date=4 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102023945/http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/athletics/event/men-long-jump-f20/index.html|archive-date=2 November 2012|url-status=dead}}
{{cite web|title=Men's Long Jump – F20 – Competition format|url=http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/athletics/event/men-long-jump-f20/competition-format/|publisher=London 2012|access-date=4 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913162928/http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/athletics/event/men-long-jump-f20/competition-format/|archive-date=13 September 2012|url-status=dead}}
=Men’s Field Events=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%" |
| scope="col" | Athlete
! scope="col" | Event ! scope="col" | Distance ! scope="col" | Rank |
|---|
| align=center
|align=left|Hio Sam Tong |align=left|Long Jump F20 |4.63 m |
Wheelchair fencing
{{main|Wheelchair fencing at the 2012 Summer Paralympics}}
Macau qualified one wheelchair fencer, In I Lao. At the time of the 2012 London Summer Paralympics, she was an 27 year old language student at the University of Macau,{{Cite web|title=In I Lao|url=http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/athlete/lao-in-i-5514126/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120916201904/http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/athlete/lao-in-i-5514126/|archive-date=16 September 2012|access-date=4 March 2021|publisher=London 2012}} and was making her Paralympic debut in London since her international wheelchair fencing debut the year before. Lao began doing wheelchair fencing after watching the sport while working in Macau in 2011. She has a limb deficiency and is classified A.{{cite web|title=Lao In I|url=http://ipc.infostradasports.com/asp/lib/TheASP.asp?pageid=8937&sportid=526&personid=941022|publisher=International Paralympic Committee|access-date=4 March 2021|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304002455/http://ipc.infostradasports.com/asp/lib/TheASP.asp?pageid=8937&sportid=526&personid=941022|url-status=live}} Both of the events in which Lao participated were held at ExCeL London. Lao competed in the group stage's first pool of the women's individual foil A competition on the morning of 4 September. She won her first match against Italy's Loredana Trigilia but lost her second game to Delphine Bernard of France. Lao's third match saw her beat Hong Kong's Pui Shan Fan but lost her final two games to Hungary's Zsuzsanna Krajnyak and China's Rong Jing. As Lao was not placed in the top eight, she did not qualify out of the group stage. Overall, she finished ninth out of twelve competitors.{{cite web|title=Wheelchair fencing: Women's Individual Foil Category A: Pool Summary (Bouts)|url=http://www.london2012.com/externalparamodules/WF/pdf/WFW021000_C76B.pdf|publisher=London 2012|date=4 September 2012|access-date=4 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120911160415/http://www.london2012.com/externalparamodules/WF/pdf/WFW021000_C76B.pdf|archive-date=11 September 2012|url-status=dead}}
{{cite web|title=Wheelchair fencing: Women's Individual Foil Category A: Ranking from pools|url=http://www.london2012.com/externalparamodules/WF/pdf/WFW021000_C76D.pdf|publisher=London 2012|date=4 September 2012|access-date=4 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120911160414/http://www.london2012.com/externalparamodules/WF/pdf/WFW021000_C76D.pdf|archive-date=11 September 2012|url-status=dead}} The following day, Lao partook in the group stages' first pool in the women's individual épée A tournament. She won her opening two matches over Alia Gorlina of Ukraine and Pui. Lao did not win her remaining three matches against Poland's Marta Fidrych, Bailli Wu of China and Krajnyak. She came ninth overall, and therefore, advanced no further since only the top eight made the following round.{{cite web|title=Wheelchair fencing: Women's épée Individual Category A: Ranking from Pools|url=http://www.london2012.com/externalparamodules/WF/pdf/WFW011000_C76D.pdf|publisher=London 2012|date=5 September 2012|access-date=4 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120911160414/http://www.london2012.com/externalparamodules/WF/pdf/WFW011000_C76D.pdf|archive-date=11 September 2012|url-status=dead}}
{{cite web|title=Wheelchair fencing: Women's épée Individual Category A: Pool Summary (Bouts)|url=http://www.london2012.com/externalparamodules/WF/pdf/WFW011000_C76B.pdf|publisher=London 2012|date=5 September 2012|access-date=4 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120911160414/http://www.london2012.com/externalparamodules/WF/pdf/WFW011000_C76B.pdf|archive-date=11 September 2012|url-status=dead}}
=Women=
| class=wikitable style="font-size:90%" |
| rowspan="2"|Athlete
!rowspan="2"|Event !colspan="3"|Group Stage !scope="col"| Quarterfinals !scope="col"|Semifinals !colspan="2"|Final |
|---|
| Opposition Result !Opposition !Rank !Opposition !Opposition !Opposition !Rank |
| align=center
|align=left rowspan=6|In I Lao |align=left rowspan=3|Individual épée A |{{flagIPCathlete|Gorlina|UKR|2012 Summer}} |{{flagIPCathlete|Fan|HKG|2012 Summer}} |rowspan=3|9 |
| align=center
|{{flagIPCathlete|Fidrych|POL|2012 Summer}} |{{flagIPCathlete|Wu|CHN|2012 Summer}} |
| align=center
|colspan=2|{{flagIPCathlete|Krajnyak|HUN|2012 Summer}} |
| align=center
|align=left rowspan=3|Individual foil A |{{flagIPCathlete|Trigilia|ITA|2012 Summer}} |{{flagIPCathlete|Bernard|FRA|2012 Summer}} |rowspan=3|9 |
| align=center
|{{flagIPCathlete|Fan|HKG|2012 Summer}} |{{flagIPCathlete|Krajnyak|HUN|2012 Summer}} |
| align=center
|colspan=2|{{flagIPCathlete|Rong|CHN|2012 Summer}} |