20th City Olympics kicks off this pm

CEBU, Philippines - Over 6,000 athletes from the basic education and tertiary levels will converge today as the 20th Cebu City Olympics fires off with another elaborate opening ceremonies beginning at 3 pm at the Cebu City Sports Center.

This early, the city government of Cebu has already assured its all-out support to the City’s athletes with hopes that the Central Visayas delegation will improve its standings in the Palarong Pambansa next year.

Traditionally, Cebu City comprised 80 percent of the CVIRAA contingent that is why the LGU in collaboration with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Cebu City Sports Commission headed by Edward Hayco are working hand-in-hand to help all the athletes excel in the national level.

Cebu City Vice Mayor Augustus Joy Young, who is also the Committee on Education chairman, said they want to motivate the athletes to show excellence in all sporting events.

“In behalf of the Cebu City government, we are giving our all-out support to all the Cebu City athletes because we are aiming of making Cebu the number one in sports. I believe that if all the sectors in the government will extend help, then there’s no reason why our athletes will not strive hard for excellence,” said Young during the formal launching of the school-based sports conclave yesterday at the CCSC function hall.

CCSC manager Ricardo “Ricky” Ballesteros, for his part, said with the collaboration of all the local and private sectors, there will surely be an improvement when it comes to the performance of the athletes.

“We hope that we could grab the championship this time with the strong support assured by our local government and the private entities. We could upgrade our equipment and give whatever assistance that our athletes need because we are one of the producers of best athletes in the country,” said Ballesteros.

No less than City Mayor Michael L. Rama will grace the kick-off salvo along with Commission on Higher Education (CHED)-7 head Dr. Amelita Biglete and Division PESS Supervisor Nenita Pardenilla.

Among the highlights of the colorful affair is the selection of the Miss Cebu City Olympics in three divisions.

Jonah Clarus of the Milo Little Olympics-Visayas volleyball champion team University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) volleyball girls team will lead the oath of sportsmanship, while the Abellana National School sepak takraw artists will spearhead the lighting of the symbolic urn of peace and unity.

Among the events to be contested in the annual athletic meet include archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, boxing, chess, dancesports, football, gymnastics, karatedo, lawn tennis, scrabble, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo and volleyball. (THE FREEMAN)