‘Specialympics’ kicks off sans students from storm-hit areas

CEBU, Philippines – The 2014 Regional Special Olympics hosted by the Department of Educaton in Mandaue City kicked off yesterday but without delegations from the cities of  Tacloban and Bacolod.

Students with special needs coming from region 6 and 7 are supposed to compete in athletic, ball games, aquatic and unified bowling last December 4, 5 and 6.

Education officials moved the regional meet after Assistant Division Head Dr. Estela Susvilla learned from PAGASA-Mactan Director Oscar Tabada about super typhoon Ruby that hit eastern Visayas, including northern Cebu last week.

Around 600 students and 100 coaches were supposed to join in this year’s regional olympics for students with special needs. As of yesterday, only delegates from Iloilo, Dumaguete, Tagbilaran and the province of Cebu, Cebu City and Mandaue City were able to make it to the opening for the two-day Olympics at the Sacred Heart School - Ateneo de Cebu in Barangay Canduman, Mandaue City.

Participants were billeted at the Mandaue City Central School, where classes are still suspended until today (Wednesday).

Special Olympics National President Roberto Galvin said he was surprised why representatives from Bacolod City was not able to make it in the competition considering that they were not badly hit by the super typhoon Ruby.

He however said that he did expect that Tacloban will send delegates as their special students are yet to complete their training for the event.

Only 300 students were able to join the opening ceremony yesterday, he said.

Galvin added that the competition will help improve intellectually-challenged students in terms of skills, discipline and social interaction.

The competition will also develop the participants’ sense of camaraderie and self-confidence.

This is the first time for Mandaue City to host the competition.

The City Government of Mandaue allocated P700,000 from special education fund for the said event. – JRS