2013 Batang Pinoy Visayas: 3,000 delegates arrive in Maasin

Around 3,000 athletes, coaches, technical delegation and guests from 83 local government units are in Maasin City, Leyte for the Visayas leg of Batang Pinoy 2013 that will kick off today. The Philippine-Youth Games Batang Pinoy is part of the grassroots development program of the Philippine Sports Commission that aims to discover fresh athletes ages 15 and below mostly out-of-school youths. It was revived two years ago.

The city government of Maasin, under the leadership of Mayor Maloney Samaco, has trained volunteers and readied free billeting areas for the athletes, coaches and other guests. Samaco earlier said that Batang Pinoy Visayas Leg will be a smoke-free competition.

Maasin City is an Orchid Awardee of the World Health Organization and Department of Health for its strict implementation of smoke-free zones in the city for several years. Smoking will be strictly prohibited in the billeting quarters, playing venues, public places and public utility vehicles.

Expected to grace the event are Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco, Jr., Philippine Sports Commission chairman Ricardo Garcia and Atty. Jay Alano, over-all Batang Pinoy project director. Events to be contested are archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, boxing, chess, dance sports, futsal, gymnastics and lawn tennis.

Also pencak silat, softball, sepak takraw, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, triathlon, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling and wushu. Meanwhile, the swimming competition will be held in Leyte Sports Academy, Tacloban City which is four hours away from Maasin. The on-site registration for this event already started on Sunday.

The national games is in partnership with the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Department of Education and the respective local government units.