Lapu-Lapu kicks off three-day Palaro

CEBU, Philippines -  With Thursday's opening of the three-day City Palaro 2014, Mayor Paz Radaza hopes to discover more outstanding athletes in Lapu-Lapu City.

A horde of student-athletes, teaching workforce from public and private institutions and spectators flocked at the Mactan – Benito Ebuen Air Base in Barangay Pajo amid intermittent drizzles in order to kick off the local sporting spectacle that aims to pick athletes to represent the city in higher levels of competition.

The City Palaro had long been started years back and is envisioned to be an avenue for sports-minded students to eventually represent the city in the Palarong Pambansa this coming December, according to organizers who are from the Department of Education.

But apart from unearthing local talents, the Lapu-Lapu City government also hopes to develop camaraderie among participants.

Mayor Radaza said this will help strengthen the city's sports program at the grassroots level.

Participants

Organizers said at least 69 public schools and 50 private institutions joined the parade in the field.

They will compete in indoor and outdoor sports such as volleyball, sepak takraw, soccer, badminton, basketball, gymnastics, taekwondo, aikido, chess, table tennis and arnis, among others.

Indoor games and physical sports will be played on the right wing of Hoops Dome in Barangay Gun-ob, which Mayor Radaza earlier declared as the city's center for indoor games during her latest State of the City Address.

Support

She also hopes that those who will emerge winners in the different sports competition here will be able to represent Lapu-Lapu City in the Philippine National Games next year.

Ten out of 37 delegates of the city to this year's PNG last May bagged one gold, five silver and four bronze medals in Manila.

Earlier, Radaza vowed to give support to the student-athletes in their early preparations for upcoming national tournaments.

Doctor  Edwardo Ompad, schools division superintendent, welcomed the students for the healthy competition and said he hopes that one of Lapu-Lapu City's students would excel all the way to the national games.  (FREEMAN)