Athletes told to excel in building character

CEBU, Philippines — Acting Mayor Donaldo “Dondon” Hontiveros last Saturday expressed hope that sporting events, like the Cebu City Olympics (CCO), would not just make the students better athletes but be the best version of themselves.

Speaking on behalf of Mayor Michael Rama during the opening of this year’s CCO at the Cebu Coliseum, he said sports is not only about winning medals but more importantly about character building.

The former Philippine basketball star turned politician said Rama told him to speak to the young athletes about the essence of a “shared responsibility”.

He said that while the City Government looks for ways and means to give the athletes an avenue to showcase what they trained for, the athletes, on the other hand, have that responsibility to finish the tournament strong.

“When we stay strong, dili kay kanang inigkahuman sa duwa muingon ka’g ‘batia’g tawag sa referee uy’. Strong in a sense that you learned something,” Hontiveros said.

Sports, he said, either build or reveal character, and he hoped that athletes build theirs through the CCO sporting events.

Hontiveros had always emphasized good manners and right conduct in every game that he played and in dealing with victory as well as with defeat.

He himself is a living proof on what sports can do, as it has not only brought him fame but also molded him to be a man of goodwill.

Just last December, Hontiveros launched DH25 Foundation together with other former products of Don Bosco Technological Center. The Foundation is meant to help the less fortunate youngsters get better lives thru technical-vocational courses.

“Sa mga bata, I hope you grow more, learn from this City Olympics, and look forward to the next games… A few months from now, you will be representing us, Cebu City in the Palarong Pambansa or in the years to come…make it the best way possible,” Hontiveros said.

CCO will run until Feb. 11, with athletics scheduled to take place on Feb. 9 to 11 at the Naga City Sports Complex.

This is the first time in 31 years that the athletics event in the CCO is done outside Cebu City, since the Cebu City Sports Center’s oval is still under repair in preparation for the Palarong Pambansa 2024. (CEBU NEWS)