CEBU CITY, Philippines — Naging makulay ang pagbubukas ng 2018 Philippine National Games kahapon dito sa Cebu City Sports Center.
Pinangunahan nina Philippine Sports Commission chairman William ‘Butch’ Ramirez, Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III at Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña ang opisyal na pagsisimula ng kompetisyon na magtatampok sa mga miyembro ng national team at national training pool.
“Let’s enjoy this event. We want you to be the next athletes that will deliver the country its first gold medal in the Olympics,” sabi ni Osmeña. “Let’s make our dreams come true.”
Si 2016 Olympic Games silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz ang nagbigay ng Oath of Sportsmanship sa hanay ng mga atleta.
Samantala, 23 gintong medalya ang ilalatag sa Day One ng athletics competition habang lima naman ang pag-aagawan sa swimming event.
Ang mga finals events sa athletics ay ang women’s 10,000m run, men’s shot put, women’s high jump, women’s shot put, boys’ at men’s 3,000m run, girls’, boys’, women’s at men’s 100m, boys’ at men’s 110m hurdles, boys’ pole vault, boys at girls’ discus throw, girls’. boys’, women’s at men’s 400m hurdles, girls’ at boys’ 5,000m run, men’s long jump at girls’ 2,000m.
Paglalabanan naman sa swimming pool ang mga gold medals sa 200m Individual Medley, 100m freestyle, 50m backstroke, 1,500m freestyle at 800m freestyle.
Sisimulan din ngayong araw ang mga elimination round sa chess, softball lawn tennis, archery, arnis, taekwondo, table tennis, volleyball, weightlifting at sepak takraw.
Kabuuang 19 sports ang idaraos dito, samantalang ginagawa naman ang gymnastics at rugby/football events sa Rizal Memorial Sports Complex sa Vito Cruz, Manila at Southern Plains sa Canlubang, Laguna, ayon sa pagkakasunod.