City Olympics kicks off Friday

CEBU, Philippines – Cebu City's search for its representatives to the next Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association Regional Meet commence on Friday as the 24th Cebu City Olympics kicks off  at the Cebu City Sports Center.

Mayor Michael Rama said in yesterday’s launching of the multi-sport joust at DepEd-Cebu City Division office in Imus that the CityLympics has gone far and grew bigger compared to the days when it first started with him when he was still a councilor.

“Looking back at the first Citylympics and compare it now, it has grown big and now considered as one of the major sporting events here in Cebu,” said Mayor Rama.

A total of 25 events will be contested in both the elementary and secondary division, four of which are demonstration sports namely wushu, billiards, wrestling and futsal.

The City government is allocating P5 million for the two-weekend tilt. An undisclosed budget will be  apportioned for the training of athletes that will be selected for the CVIRAA wherein Cebu City is aiming for its 25th overall crown.

Ricky Ballesteros, who is part of the organizing committee, said in order for Cebu City and eventually Region VII to produce good results in the Palarong Pambansa, they need to focus on medal-rich sports.

That is because the Palaro is going back to the Olympic medal count in determining the overall standings after years of applying points system.

Like last year, CESAFI schools will compete on its own, while the rest of the schools will be represented by districts.

Games proper will start on November 8 yet. The games are held for two weekends so as not to disrupt the student-athletes’ academic activities.

DepEd-Cebu City sports coordinator Zenaida Gocotano is positive that they will be able to select much better athletes this time.

More than the medals though, mayor Rama emphasized to the teachers and coaches that sporting events like this are also means of character building. (FREEMAN)