Organizers and officials of the Department of the Education-Cebu City launch the 26th Cebu City Olympics, which gets going today at the Cebu City Sports Center.
(CDN PHOTO/CHRISTIAN MANINGO)
The 26th Cebu City Olympics kicks off today at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) with around a thousand athletes not only battling for medals but also for a chance to compete in the bigger stage.
Top performers for the three-day meet will have an opportunity to compete in the Batang Pinoy National Finals slated late this month in Davao del Norte.
But organizers clarified that not all the medal winners will qualify to the national multi-sporting event.
“The medalists in the City Olympics will still undergo a selection process since the Cebu City Niños’ number of athletes for Batang Pinoy is limited as well as the budget,” Francis Ramirez said in the press launching of this year’s City Olympics yesterday at Department of Education (DepEd) Cebu City Office on Imus Road, Cebu City.
Some of the winners will also have a chance to compete in the next year’s Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association meet in the City of Naga, southern Cebu.
“I announced this to prevent any argument between the coaches and parents of the athletes. It does not mean that your child who won a gold medal will automatically qualify for Batang Pinoy. We will do a selection process and will only select the best of the best,” Ramirez added.
The process was agreed by the Cebu City Sports Commission (CCSC), now under the supervision of Councilor Eugenio Gabuya who is the deputy mayor for sports and the Cebu City DepEd officials after the Niños’ third place finish in Batang Pinoy National Finals last year in Cebu City.
Yesterday’s media briefing was attended by DepEd Cebu City Schools Division superintendent Bianito Dagatan, DepEd Cebu City MAPEH coordinator Renezar Ferrolino, Division Sports Coordinator Zenaida Gocotano and meet organizers Ricky Ballesteros, Bernard Ricablanca and Dr. Danilo Villadolid.
Today’s opening ceremonies will be attended by around a thousand elementary and secondary athletes representing different units as well as Cesafi schools.
The meet will have 25 sporting events including two cultural events.
Secondary division defending champion University of Cebu (UC) will field in 157 athletes while another title contender University of San Carlos (USC) is expected to have around a hundred athletes.
USC helped Unit 7 clinch the title in the elementary division last year.
UC finished last year’s competition with 50 gold medals, 36 silvers and 24 bronzes in the secondary division while Unit 7 harvested 60 golds, 43 silvers and bronzes in the elementary division.
Arnis, chess, dancesport, folkdance, gymnastics, karatedo, scrabble, taekwondo, wrestling, wushu and the Mr. and Miss Cebu City Olympics will be held at the SM Seaside City in South Road Properties, while seven events will be held at the CCSC.
Other events will be held in various venues around the city.