'Let the games begin'

CEBU, Philippines - After enjoying the pomp and pageantry of the colorful kick-off salvo, thousands of athletes brace for the real battle as hostilities in the 14th Milo Little Olympics Visayas eliminations fire off today with the Cebu City Sports Center as the main venue.

What makes this year’s edition tougher and more exciting compared to the previous stagings of the multi-sport conclave is the holding of the National Championships for the first time, also to be hosted by the Queen City of the South next month.

For Milo Sports executive director Pat Goc-Ong, this is a big challenge for the Cebuanos.

“This is an added challenge to the Visayas region especially to the Cebuanos as they will be the first host of the National Championships of the Milo Little Olympics. For sure you want to win the overall championship,” said Goc-Ong during the elaborate opening ceremony.

The medal-rich athletics and swimming events as well as badminton, gymnastics, scrabble and elementary volleyball will be played as the CCSC.

“As much as possible, we will hold as many events here at the CCSC and nearby venues in preparation for the national championships,”said local organizer Ricky Ballesteros.

Sepak takraw and sipa will be done at the Labangon Elementary School, chess at Asian College of Technology, table tennis at the University of Cebu, secondary girls volleyball at City Central School and the boys side at the Abellana National School, lawn tennis at Alta Vista Golf and Country Club for the secondary and at Baseline for the elementary level.

Of all the Cebu entries, Jennifer Jacalan carries the most tedious task as she seeks to prove her worth being the first Cebuana tennis player to represent the Philippines in the upcoming 25th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Laos.

Interestingly, Jacalan is a product of the Milo Little Olympics where she was once bestowed with the Most Outstanding Athlete award.

“Jennifer started with the Milo Little Olympics, she was only Grade 3 then. She and the rest look forward to every Milo (Little) Olympics as this is one competition that their skills will surely be further honed,” said Jacalan’s coach Jessica Jawad-Honoridez.

The other athletes to watch out for in the two-weekend contest are Jacalan’s teammate Dannele Jay Tormis and bemedalled swimmer Loren Dale Echavez. Both credited MLO as the main vehicle in giving them a break to excel in their respective fields.

“This event is both fun and competitive. This also serves as a challenge for me to break my record and improve my time,” said Echavez, a senior high school student at the University of San Carlos. – THE FREEMAN