Young athletes from different parts of the country will converge at the Cebu City Sports Center today for the opening of the week-long Batang Pinoy National Finals.
Around 4,000 athletes will be joining the kick off, which starts with a parade from Osmeña Boulevard, near the Department of Health (DOH) Region VII office, in the afternoon.
The opening ceremony promises to be a colorful one as part of Cebu City Sports Commission’s (CCSC) bid for a “memorable” hosting of the multi-sporting meet for athletes aged 18 below.
Ricky Ballesteros, the organizer of the grand Sinulog Festival in Cebu, was tasked to take charge of the opening ceremony, which will be highlighted by performances from Lumad Basakanon and top dance troupes from different universities in Cebu. Around 5,000 performers are expected to take part in the show.
As early as 3:30 p.m. today, Sinulog singing Idols will also start serenading the delegates who will be arriving from the parade.
Capping off the ceremony will be the grand fireworks display.
Noted personalities expected to grace the opening are men’s national volleyball team Richard Gomez,Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Ritchie Garcia, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes and Danao City Mayor Ramon Durano III.
Multi-titled jin Denison Cañeda will lead the oath of athletes while international table tennis referee and University of Cebu (UC) table tennis head coach Jessica Honoridez will lead the oath of coaches. Batang Pinoy National Finals commissioner Tony del Prado will do the oath of officials.
Cebuana Marathon Queen Mary Joy Tabal and her students in the grassroots development program in running will carry the symbolic torch to light the urn to signify the start of the meet.
Tomorrow, action begins with Mandaue City hosting four sporting events. Arnis and pencat silat will be held at the barangay Ibabao-Estancia multi-purpose gymnasium while wrestling and weightlifting will be held at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex.
Danao City will also host four events. Basketball will be held at the Danao Civic Center, cycling in barangay Manlayag, softball at the Ramon Durano Sr. Sports Complex and triathlon at the Danao City boardwalk.
The rest of the 27 sporting events will be held in Cebu City.
Athletes who will win gold medals or perform excellently during the meet will have a chance of making it into the national training pool.
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