BANTAY, Ilocos Sur—With seven gold medals stake on opening day in athletics, President Rodrigo Duterte urged student athletes to aspire for change.
Duterte, who graced yesterday’s opening ceremonies, encouraged young athletes seeing action in the 2018 Palarong Pambansa, to find inspiration among their peers.
“As you play with vigor and fairness, continue harnessing the strengths of each other as we proceed on the path towards real and lasting change,” said Duterte in his speech after the parade of athletes at the Quirino Stadium here.
The first medals of the Games will be in athletics, beginning with an early morning showdown in the secondary girls 3,000-meter run.
More medals will be won in the secondary boys javelin throw, the elementary boys shot put, the secondary boys long jump, elementary boys triple jump, secondary girls javelin throw and elementary boys shot put.
Five golds will be up for grabs in the special games for the disabled, and in long jump, 100-meter run for 15-year and under, and in level 6, and in shotput.
The Quirino Complex serves as the main venue, with around 40 sports disciplines to be played.
Around 1,311 medals for regular sports will be at stake, along with 24 for demo events, and 264 for the special games.
Action is also set to begin in archery, badminton, basketball, 3×3 basketball, billiards, boxing, chess, football, futsal, softball, gymnastics, tennis and volleyball.
The staging of the Games this year will be anchored on the theme, “Championing the Spirit of Young Filipino Athletes.
With some 10,000 student athletes and sports officials from 17 regions coming in, Department of Education Secretary Leonor Briones will be there to open the games with Undersecretary and Palaro Secretary General Tonisito Umali, Ilocos Sur Governor Ryan Luis Singson and Bantay Mayor Samuel Parilla.
Philippine Sports Commissioner Ramon Fernandez and Charles Maxey were also around to lend their support to the Games.
Youth Olympic Games gold medalist and champion archer Gabriel Moreno will light the friendship cauldron.
A total of 17 regions will be competing in 22 regular events, two demonstration sports, and various disciplines for the disabled.