CANDELARIA, Zambales, Philippines Itatampok ngayon sa Zambales Multi-Sports Festival ang isang three-day, seven-discipline program para palakasin ang kanilang sports tourism.
Sinabi ni Jun Omar Ebdane, ang Zambales provincial administrator at overall festival chairman, na ang mga races at sports competitions ay lalahukan ng mga triathletes at sports enthusiasts mula sa Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Manila at Camarines Sur.
Kabilang sa mga lalahok ay sina reigning Filipino elite ironman champion Niel Catiil, Canadian triathlete Matt O’Halloran, American runner Chris Aerosmith, Asian junior cycing bronze medalist Rustom Lim ng Nueva Ecija at Zambales triathlete John Chicano.
Kabuuang 12 koponan naman ang sasabak sa Black Sands Ultimate Frisbee, kasama rito ang Sexual Chocolate ni actor-athlete Derek Ramsey.
Ang mga side events ay ang Zamba Black Sands Bikini Open, isang musical concert tampok ang bandang Sidhi at isang photo competition.
“We’re lucky to have tapped a broad sector of the market, especially the more well-known sports centers and teams in the country,” ani Ebdane.
“I hope this will be a successful coming out party for Zambales sports tourism, as we’re banking on this festival to help us make a name for our province in the field of sports tourism,” dagdag pa ni Ebdane.