Hassle-free Palaro seen in Tacloban

MANILA, Philippines – Organizers of the 2009 Palarong Pambansa slated April 26-May 3 at the Leyte Sports Development Center in Tacloban City hope that the perennial problem of age-cheating wouldn’t beset this year’s meet due to stringent eligibility measures.

Len Toledo, the Department of Education’s national sports coordinator for Palaro, and Neil Baronda, Leyte provincial sports coordinator, made this assurance after promising a hassle-free edition of the multi-sports sportsfest for elementary and high school students.

“The issue of age-cheating happened in the Naga edition in 2006 and it hasn’t happened ever since we’ve implemented stricter eligibility measures,” said Toledo in yesterday’s PSA Forum at the Shakey’s UN Ave.

“We’re also hoping the athletes won’t suffer heat stroke in various venues because we’re expecting rains in Leyte this coming week,” Baronda, for his part, said.

Baronda also announced no less than President Arroyo herself will grace the opening ceremony, which was rescheduled from April 26 to April 28 to accommodate the Chief Executive.

Also invited in the opening ceremonies, which would also be highlighted by the traditional parade of all 17 participating regions, are Senators Manny Villar, Jinggoy Estrada, Pia Cayetano and Mar Roxas. Philippine Sports Commission chair Harry Angping will be the guest speaker in the closing ceremony.

“Everything is set, the venues, the billeting areas and security measures in the meet,” said Baronda. “In fact, all 17 participating regions have started arriving early this week.”

The sports disciplines to be played in the weeklong event are centerpiece track and field, arnis, archery, badminton, baseball, basketball, boxing, chess, football, gymnastics, lawn tennis, sepak takraw, softball, taekwondo, table tennis and volleyball.

National Capital Region will defend its overall championship in both elementary and high school divisions.