President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. celebrated the milestones of the 64th Palarong Pambansa in Cebu City, highlighting the debut participation of the National Academy of Sports and Philippine Schools Overseas, alongside the other 17 Department of Education-recognized regional delegations.
“This event is more than just an inter-school [and] inter-regional competition; it is also a platform where we discover, where we develop, and hone future professional athletes, Olympians, and servant-leaders,” the President said.
Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Richard Bachmann, who was also with PBBM during the lighting of the torch, echoed the President’s statements and lauded the role of school-based organizations in providing prestigious platforms for aspiring athletes.
He reiterated that the sports agency is intensely preparing for the coming 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympic Games while expressing eagerness in discovering new talents who will carry the national flag in future global sporting meets.
“The present is bright, but the future looks brighter seeing these young athletes ready to showcase their own version of history here in Cebu City,” Bachmann said.
Meanwhile, events in athletics will start on schedule, following the rush to complete the repairs on the track oval of the Cebu City Sports Complex.
Tournament director Jeannette Obiena, whose pole vaulter son Ernest John is set to compete in the Paris Olympics, said this as workers rushed to fix lanes 1 and 6 of the oval.
Host Central Visayas will seek to make its presence felt at the start the games on Thursday with eight of 24 regular events set to begin in 37 venues across the city. Peter Atencio
Action commences with 12 gold medals on tap in athletics at oval of the Cebu City Sports Complex.
The first gold medal at stake will be given away in the secondary girls’ 3000-meter run, with two more at stake in elementary girls’ long jump and elementary girls’ discus throw as the three events will begin simultaneously at 6 a.m.
