Manila’s best vie in 15-U youth games

The finest 15-under athletes culled out of the Big City will again gather at the historic Rizal Memorial Sports Complex for spirited competitions as the staging of the third Manila Youth (MY) Games get going May 23-30.

This was announced yesterday by Arnold "Ali" Atienza, chief of the organizing Manila Sports Council (MASCO), who said a colorful opening ceremony will usher in the weeklong multi-event competition expected to put together over 8,000 children-athletes who will vie in 15 sports.

"We envision the third MY Games to kick off another chapter in Manila’s sports history," said Atienza, son of Manila Mayor Lito Atienza. "We hope to inspire the elders of the City of Manila to involve their children in sports, not for the sole reason that someday they would become world champions but because sports and physical fitness play an important role in society."

The third edition of the games has in its calendar athletics, badminton, baseball, chess, dancesports, football, gymnastics, softball, swimming, table tennis, lawn tennis, taekwondo, volleyball and paralympics. Debuting in the MY Games is bowling.

"Through the MY Games, we hope that we are fulfilling our contribution to the country’s grassroots sports development program and providing Manila’s youth a wholesome endeavor that will help mold them as assets of society," said Manila Mayor Lito Atienza.

The second MY Games last year saw the rise of young sports potentials, such as five-gold medal winners Antonio Mendenilla, Analyn Ricalde, and Joy Regillas in athletics. swimming’s Mikee Bartolone, Judith Elizah Cruz and Thessa Paula Alcantara, and gymnastic’s Rachelyn Astillar.

Other outstanding performers were four-gold medal winners Daryll Ceballos in athletics swimming’s Johansen Aguilar and gymnastic’s Magie Wagan, Rizza Desiree Garcia and Bleau Berry Gulfan.

Practically, all 897 barangays and 130 public and private schools in the country’s premier city were well represented in the second MY Games.

The third MY Games is a vital part of the city’s Buhayin ang Maynila program and Manila’s domination of the third Philippine National Youth Games – Batang Pinoy in Bacolod City in 2001 inspired city hall to start its own sports development program for children-athletes.