GMA to open Batang Pinoy before 4,000 athletes

A big field that could reach the 4,000 mark would be standing before President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo when she declares open the third edition of the Philippine National Youth Games-Batang Pinoy this Saturday.

The President has been invited as guest of honor of the games Bacolod City and Negros Occidental are co-hosting for the second time at the sprawling Panaa-ad Sports Complex.

Besides the President, also expected to grace the colorful opening ceremonies that kick off at 2 p.m at the Panaa-ad main stadium are Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Carlos Tuason, Department of Education Secretary Raul Roco and Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Joey Lina.

"Everything, from operations to billeting, from the opening to closing ceremonies, and practically all other aspects are ready for the third Batang Pinoy," said PSC commissioner Amparo "Weena" Lim, who, to make sure that no kink is left unironed, is making the rounds of the venues and billeting centers today.

Registration officially started yesterday but since athletes and official from majority of the 115 local sports councils (local government units) have started to arrive in droves in Bacolod City Monday, the PSC expects attendance to be in the vicinity of the 4,000-athlete mark.

Lim said that as of Tuesday evening, unofficial head count of athletes arriving from various areas of the country already stood past 3,500.

Officials and accompanying adults are also expected reach half the number of athletes competing in 15 sports in the meet spread over seven days, making Bacolod City and Negros Occidental the country’s sports hub for the fourth straight year. The Panaa-ad also played host to the Centennial (1998) and Millennium (2000) Palarong Pambansa and the Batang Pinoy inaugurals in 1999.

On the hosts end, Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Maranon and Vice Gov. Isidro Zayco and Bacolod Mayor Joy Valdez and Vice Mayor Ramiro Garcia as well as Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella expressed optimism about the success of the third Batang Pinoy.

This is also the first time the private sector, through the efforts of the PSC, has been involved in the sports agency’s grassroots sports development program.

Twenty-five private firms–Negros Navigation, Automated Technology Phils. Inc., Dunlop-Slazenger Philippines, Kyx-Eljan Ventures, Frabelle Fishing Corp., dwWW 774 AM, Hidden Springs, LandBank, National Sports Grill, Nestle Milo Sportsfest, Pascual Lab. Inc., Philippine Airlines, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine Star, Reliv, Smart Communications, Sonia Trading (Asics, Mikasa, Butterfly and Nittaku) Speedo, Unilever, Victor Sports Corp., West Negros College, WG&A Lines, Philamlife, Jollibee and Vallacar Transit Inc. – have thrown their support behind the third Batang Pinoy.

Competitions will be in athletics, badminton, boxing, chess, football, gymnastics, dancesport, lawn tennis, Little League baseball, Little League softball, swimming, table tennis, karatedo and volleyball.