BAGUIO CITY— The country’s Summer Capital and the province of Benguet are now in the final stages of the preparation for the hosting of the “Batang Pinoy 2018” national championship from September 15 to 21 here.
Baguio Sports and Recreation Division Head Gaudencio Gonzales said in term of the playing venue, it is now 80 percent ready to accommodate events and the expected minimum of 5,000 delegates from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao who qualified for elimination rounds.
There were nine events where winners directly qualified for the championship, which include cycling, gymnastics, judo, futsal, Muay Thai, triathlon, weightlifting, wresting and wushu.
He said they will meet with officials of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) this week to discuss other final preparations.
“Based on the administrative order of Mayor Mauricio Domogan creating different committee, we are set to have our meeting on August 9 with the representatives from Philippine Sports Commission (PSC),” he told Philippines News Agency on Monday.
Gonzales noted “there are still some adjustments. We are done with the inspections together with the PSC.”
He said schools which can be used as playing venues and billeting will be determined after the PSC officials arrive.
Gonzales explained that clustering of schools will be done to billet delegates coming from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
He cited as an example the Baguio City National High School (BCHNS), one of the biggest schools here, which might be clustered as billeting school for Luzon.
Benguet, which is co-hosting the event with the city, will also be the venue of six events, he added.
Most events, he said, are indoors except for boxing.
“We want to showcase our boxing event so we want to use People’s Park. But in case it rains, we will use the gymnasium of BCNHS,” he added.
PSC has selected Baguio City as the host to help the PSC’s extensive sports promotion in the countryside.
As host, the city and Benguet province, particularly the capital town La Trinidad, will provide the playing venues, augmenting local transportation and setting billeting facilities for athletes and coaches.
It will also provide medical personnel and emergency medical responders in all playing venues and billeting areas.
The hosting of Batang Pinoy was given to Baguio City courtesy of PSC Chairman William Ramirez, realizing the potential of Baguio City, together with Benguet province, as a sports hub.
The Batang Pinoy sports event was given to the upland region “in a silver platter”, after losing its bid to host the 2018 Palarong Pambansa to Vigan City.
Baguio City placed second in the 2015 Batang Pinoy championship.
In 2016, Baguio placed number 1 garnering 37 golds, 22 silvers and 23 bronze medals overshadowing Cebu, Zamboanga, and Davao. (Pamela Mariz Geminiano/PNA)
