Cebu City Olympics goes full blast today

CEBU, Philippines — A tough challenge is up ahead for both the athletes and the teaching force as the 30th Cebu City Olympics goes full blast today mainly at the Cebu City Sports Center.

The multi-sport athletic meet, featuring student-athletes from public and private schools under the DepEd-Cebu City Division, formally kicked off yesterday and will end on April 2.

In all, 20 sporting events will be contested.

The medal-rich athletics and swimming as well as badminton, billiards, boxing, football, sepak takraw and scrabble will be staged at the sports center.

Archery will be at the South Road Properties, chess, taekwondo, wushu, wrestling and karatedo at SM Seaside City, while dancesport and the cultural events will be at GMall of Cebu.

Arnis will be at Zapatera Elementary School, futsal at Don Bosco Technical College, tennis at CitiGreen, table tennis at UC, gymnastics, baseball and softball at Labangon Elementary School, and pencak silat at Mabolo National High School.

Basketball will have three venues - CEC, Cebu City Sports Institute, and Benedicto College gym as well as volleyball at USPF-Lahug, Tejero and Bo. Luz Elementary School.

Aside from the regular events, this year’s CCO also has special Olympics for differently-abled athletes.

Meanwhile, Cebu City Councilor Donaldo Hontiveros said in a press conference the other day that he expects both the athletes and the teaching force to take this undertaking as an opportunity to hone their skills and know-how.

Hontiveros also hopes to see more athletes from Cebu City that will be representing Central Visayas in the forthcoming Palarong Pambansa in Marikina City this July.

“I hope that more athletes from Cebu City will be able to join the Palaro especially next year since we are bidding to host,” said Hontiveros, referring to the Queen City of the South’s bid to host the 2024 Palaro.