Mandaue launches grassroots sports program

CEBU, Philippines — With Cebuana Olympian Mary Joy Tabal-Jimenez the helm, the city government of Mandaue formally launched its Centralized Grassroots Sports Development Program on Monday, July 29, aimed at fostering a vibrant sports culture within the community and  providing opportunities for amateur athletes to hone their skills and represent the city in regional and national competitions someday.

“I already managed a grassroots running program in Cebu City, but Mandaue City needed its own comprehensive system,” said Tabal-Jimenez, a decorated long distance runner who made history as the first Filipino Olympic marathoner at the 2016 Rio Games in Brazil.

“With the help of these dedicated coaches, we aim to identify and cultivate talents that will represent Mandaue in major competitions like the Batang Pinoy and the Philippine National Games,” she added.

Set to kick off on August 3-4, over 400 aspiring athletes aged 12 years old and below will take part in the comprehensive program that offers free training across eight sports namely basketball, volleyball, sepak takraw, badminton, running, chess, karatedo, and table tennis.

In this long-term initiative that will run for five years, Tabal-Jimenez said they envision to scout and identify young individuals with exceptional athletic potential and then establish a specialized sports academies that will nurture the skills of talented youth through world-class training, coaching, and mentorship.

It also has scholarship programs that cover tuition, equipment, and living expenses to ensure that the promising athletes can focus on their training and development.    

Furthermore, there will be a calendar of tournaments that would serve as platforms for the young athletes to showcase their abilities and gain invaluable experience they need to excel in their respective fields.

More sports disciplines will be introduced in the future while the facilities will be expanded in collaboration with National Sports Associations (NSAs) for advanced training and development opportunities. — (FREEMAN)