Cebu City Olympics today at CCSC

The 15th Cebu City Olympics formally opens 8 a.m. today at the Cebu City Sports Center.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña is expected to grace the opening along with Cebu City Councilor Augustus Pe, Jr.

This year's event will carry the theme, "Sports development through schools first initiatives for peace and prosperity."

Palarong Pambansa football player Jerome Bacarisas will light the Olympic urn while the fast-rising table tennis player Mary Angelie Motel will lead the oath of sportsmanship and Jocelyn Abadia, OIC Assistant Schools Division superintendent spearheads the oath of officiating officials.

Education committee chairman Jocelyn Pesquera will be declaring the games open.

The games proper will begin right after the opening ceremonies where the medal-rich athletics will have a total of 20 golds at stake in the opening day.

For the first time, there will be no gymnastics competition as a way to implement austerity measures. Aside from that, this will also be the first time that games will be held on weekends so as not to disrupt classes.

A total of 13 districts will be competing with ANS, Cebu City Central Elementary School already entered as independent contenders in both secondary and elementary divisions while tertiary class remains as school-based.

The champion in the elementary and secondary will be listed in the training pool for the Central Visayas Regional Athletics Association. - Sona Mae V. Povadora and Caecent No-ot