Top sports officials to grace MY Games rites

The country’s top sports officials have been invited to grace the festive and colorful opening ceremonies of the third Manila Youth Games (MY Games) at the Rizal Memorial Track Stadium on Sunday.

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Eric Buhain, who will be the guest of honor and keynote speaker in the inaugural rites, is expected to be joined by Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Celso Dayrit and officials of various National Sports Associations (NSAs).

Arnold "Ali" Atienza, chief of the organizing Manila Sports Council (MASCO), said Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, who will declare the games open, will lead city hall luminaries and representatives from all 897 barangays and six congressional districts of the country’s premier city.

Buhain lauded the efforts of the city government in contributing to the national grassroots sports development agenda. "I doff my hat to the City of Manila for putting emphasis on the role of sports and the youth in nation-building. The MY Games is one program that is truly inspiring because it provides the city’s youth equal opportunities in sports."

The PSC has provided assistance to the MASCO, including the use of various facilities at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex for the endeavor, also supported by the city’s Youth Bureau, Public Service and Health Departments, Ospital ng Maynila, and Division of City Schools.

The third MY Games, also backed by Smart Communications, Air 21, IntraSports, Café Lupe, Harrison Plaza, and PAGCOR, will serve as a qualifying event in selecting deserving athletes to comprise the Philippine delegation to the 2004 International Children’s Games (ICG) in Cleveland, Ohio from July 29 - Aug. 2.

An estimated 8,000 children-athletes aged 15 years and under from all over the big city will gather at the Rizal Memorial Track Stadium to participate in the inaugurals, which promises to be one of the liveliest and most colorful sports event this year.