Milo Little Olympics’ National Capital Region/South Luzon leg organizer Robert Milton Calo of MC Robertz Sports Academy recently confirmed the addition of handball in this year’s edition of the said grassroots multi-sports event for young student athletes.
Coaches and trainers of handball met with Calo on Tuesday at the Marikina Sports Center and discussed the technical requirements, playdates, regulations and staging of the said Olympic sport to be played in the elementary and secondary girls’ categories only.
“It’s about time that handball is included in the 2018 Milo Little Olympics. There are lots of young talented student-athletes, who can easily learn this Olympic sport, where Filipinos can excel,” said Calo, who is also a top official of the national sports association Handball Association of the Philippines.
Handball [also known as Olympic handball] is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each [six outfield players and a goalkeeper] pass a ball using their hands with the aim of throwing it into the goal of the other team. A standard match consists of two periods of 30 minutes and the team that scores more goals wins.
Aside from handball, other sports to showcased in the Little Olympics are arnis, badminton, basketball, chess, football, futsal, gymnastics [rhytmic], karatedo, scrabble, sepak takraw, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis and volleyball.
Concepcion Elementary School in Marikina [elementary] and San Beda [secondary] were last year’s champions.
Milo Sports Executive Lester Castillo welcomed the new development in the Little Olympics slated August 24 to 26 at the Marikina Sports Center and other satellite venues in the shoe capital of the Philippines.
“Milo Little Olympics is getting bigger this year. This annual youth competition aims to emphasize Milo’s unwavering commitment to the country in developing not only athleticism, but also mental discipline among student athletes who will be the next generation of sports heroes,” Castillo said.
Event registration is ongoing until Aug. 13 at Marikina Sports Center, the main hub of the colorful opening ceremonies on Aug. 24 to be graced by DepEd officials, Marikina LGUs and executives of Nestle Philippines.
For further details, contact Prof. Calo (09989580898), Alma Jocson (09175224288), Chato Valenzuela (09951989642), Mario Garovillo (09474079568) and Menchie Salazar (09997976637).