10 disciplines featured in Manila Corp festival

MANILA, Philippines - Ten sports have been chosen for their team-building and team-bonding qualities in the inaugural 2012 Manila Corporate Games slated March 22-25 at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex and that is expected to draw 3,000 athletes from 60 blue-chip companies in the country.

The sports are running, cycling, swimming, poker, dragon boat rowing, basketball, volleyball, football, badminton and lawn tennis, according to Lorens Stiller of the organizing Multiplata Philippines in yesterday’s PSA forum at the Shakey’s UN Avenue branch in Manila.

“We chose these 10 disciplines because of their team-building and team-bonding qualities,” said Stiller in the session sponsored by Smart, Pagcor and Shakey’s. “This is not merely a sports competition but a celebration of fun and camaraderie among the participants.”

He cited the example of running “where we will not only have individual winners in the 3 and 5-kilometer fun runs but also team champions as well when we run the races around Roxas Boulevard on the last day of the Corporate Games. This is also why we chose mostly team sports.”

Stiller also thanked the Philippine Sports Commission for allowing them to stage majority of the games at the RMSC, with the exception of dragon boat rowing that will be held at the Pasig River in front of the Manila Boat Club.

“The staging of the dragon boat competitions is part of our advocacy to promote the awareness and the rehabilitation of the Pasig River,” he said.

Spicing up the meet, he added, is the Business Enterprise Day on March 22, the grand parade of athletes and Great Games Party two days later before winding up with colorful closing and awards ceremonies on March 25. Interested parties can still register for the 2012 Manila Corporate Games at all Gold’s Gym branches or online at [email protected] by downloading the registration form at the event’s website at www.corporate-games.com.ph.