Palaro goes full blast; 6 golds staked in tracks

DAPITAN CITY, Philippines – After taking part in a rain-drenched parade and opening ceremonies, the student-athletes go down to business as field action gets going today in the 2011 Palarong Pambansa here.

Centerpiece athletics kicks off hostilities at the Jose Rizal Memorial State University Sports Complex, staking four gold medals in the secondary competitions – javelin throw secondary girls, long jump secondary boys, shot put secondary boys,  and triple jump secondary boys – and two in elementary play – triple jump elementary boys and shot put elementary girls.

Special athletes also get their day in the field, with long jump Mentally-Challenged (MC) 16-above; 100- meter virtually-impaired (VI) 15-below (boys and girls); shotput MC 15-below and OH 15-below; and 100m MC 16-above on the slate.

Likewise up in Day 1 are time trials in 110m hurdles elementary boys and secondary boys, 100m hurdles secondary girls and elementary girls; 100m secondary and elementary girls and secondary and elementary boys; and 800m run in all divisions.

Espousing the theme: “Enshrining School Sports,” the 2011 Palaro formally opened amid intermittent downpour yesterday. Highlighting the rites were the traditional parade of the 17 regions, a skydiving exhibition by the Army parachute team, turnover of the Palaro banner from 2010 host Tarlac to officials of Dapitan City andZamboanga del Norte, and a fireworks display.

Vice President Jejomar Binay delivered the keynote speech.    

Despite the wet conditions currently prevailing over Dapitan, the hosts expect a successful and fun-filled staging. 

“Rains would not spoil the fun of our Palaro,” said former Zamboanga Norte Rep. Romeo Jalosjos, chair of the organizing committee.

Some 10,000 delegates from 17 regions, led by elementary, secondary and general champion National Capital Region, will pit skills until May 14 to determine of the best in the sportsfest, a breeding ground for the country’s athletic heroes.

Notes: For the first time, activities in the Palaro can be viewed online via the website depedtfss.wikispaces.com. Timeline Digital Productions will bring the action through live streaming beginning with yesterday’s opening rites... Delegates and people with Palaro accreditation took advantage of a live PPV of Manny Pacquiao’s fight with Sugar Shane Mosley at the main stadium a few hours before the opening...Covering media had to wait nearly all day to get hold of the schedule of games and when it was delivered to the press center, some 20 mediamen had to share a solitary copy.