Bigger, better Mindanao Games set in Cagayan de Oro

The Mindanao Friendship Games, designed to promote peace and unity between Muslims and Christians through sports, will be staged in Cagayan de Oro in November following its successful inaugural last year in Tubod, Lanao del Norte.

This was announced yesterday by William "Butch" Ramirez of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) during the PSA Forum at the Holiday Inn. He added that a meeting between the top officials of Cagayan de Oro and the PSC will be held next week.

Ramirez, ordered by President Arroyo to stay on as PSC commissioner despite an ongoing revamp in the government sports agency, said they expect Cagayan de Oro Mayor Vicente Emano and Misamis Oriental Gov. Antonio Kalingin to be in Manila on Tuesday.

"We’ve invited them for a meeting with PSC chairman Eric Buhain to probably sign a memorandum of agreement regarding their hosting of the Mindanao Friendship Games," said Ramirez, adding that foreign countries have been invited to the Games.

Ramirez, who hails from Mindanao, said athletes from Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia have been invited to participate in the multi-event open to all athletes unlike the Palarong Pambansa which is reserved for athletes aged 18 years and below.

Ramirez added that a basketball team and a soccer squad from Darwin, Australia, have also signified their intentions to compete in the event which was hosted by Lanao del Norte and the PSC last year with a budget of only P8 million.

A total of 15 sports disciplines were contested last year with Cagayan de Oro clinching the overall championship with 29 gold medals, closely followed by Iligan City with 23. This year, dancesport and golf will be included plus a couple of indigenous sports.

Meanwhile, officials of Lanao del Norte headed by Gov. Imelda Dimaporo and her husband, Rep. Bobby Dimaporo, are still hoping to get the nod of President Arroyo regarding its plan to host this year’s Palarong Pambansa.

The Dimaporos will meet with Buhain this week despite the PSC’s recommendation to the President to have Naga City as host of the multi-event meet reserved for elementary and high school students. - With reports from Joey Villar