CCSC focused on grassroots sports program

By: Irish D. Torres - 9 years ago

THE CEBU City Sports Commission (CCSC) is focused on its mission to maximize its summer grassroots sports training program.
Edward Hayco, chairman of the CCSC, said they are pushing to make the program into a movement that would sustain the culture of volunteerism and athleticism among the youth of Cebu.
“We want to create a culture of volunteerism. We will turn this sports training program not just into an advocacy, but more importantly into a movement,” Hayco said. “The youth of today are full of energy, curiosity, and excitement, and we don’t want that this kind of energy will turn into negativity like getting involved in drugs, gambling, smoking, and any form of crimes. We want them to engage in positive things, most likely sports.”
According to Hayco, attendance in various training venues was “overwhelming” and both trainees and volunteer coaches cooperated in their training program.
CCSC’s program extended its advocacy to Cebu City’s mountain barangays, wherein kids aged 7 to 14 years old are given free access to 16 different sports.
Assisted by Cebu City’s Police and Women’s Desk, CCSC also set a program for street kids so they can engage in sports and not to roam around the streets all-day long.
“Positive gyud kaayo ang result kay natapok man sa mga pulis and mga street children, unya ni- participate gyud sila sa sports training”, Hayco added. (The result was indeed positive because the police officers have gathered the street children, and they really participated in the sports training.)
There are 5-8 sports activities in one venue per training schedule, which is held every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 1:00-4:00 p.m.
“Several sports activities were done in the same venue during the same schedule so that all the trainees would learn different types of sports events in one day, and not just basketball and basketball alone”, Hayco elaborated.
CCSC’s Grassroots Sports Training Program started four years ago, and within that time span, it has already produced several gold medalists in the Palarong Pambansa.