Palaro draws 8,200 participants

BACOLOD City -- An estimated 8,200 student-athletes and coaches from 16 regions throughout the country will see action in the Millennium Palarong Pambansa which starts today at the Panaad Park and Sports Complex here.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman Carlos D. Tuason announced that a PSC-sanctioned selection Task Force will be formed to select top athletes that would undergo rigid training after the Palaro and compete in Asean and Asian School Sports Invitational Meets slated in June and August this year.

"International exposure like these school meets are important for our young athletes. We want these Games sustained so that our athletes can further test and feel at their tender age the competitive pressures that are necessary in tapering their athletic skills," Tuason said.

The two invitational games are regular school-based sports competitions among high school students in Asia. Lined up for top Palaro athletes are the 24th Asean Athletics Championships in Thailand this June, Asian Schools Table Tennis Championships in Hong Kong this July, Asean Schools Sepak Takraw Championships in Singapore and the Asean Schools Gymnastics Championships in Indonesia, both scheduled in August.

The Philippines shall play host to the seventh Asean Schools Volleyball Championships in June.