Baybay ready to host 2014 EVRAA Meet, says its mayor

The city government of Baybay is set to spend P8 million for the construction of a grandstand in time for its hosting of the Eastern Visayas Regional Athletics Association (EVRAA) Meet next year. Baybay City Mayor Carmen Cari said the city is more than ready to host the biggest sporting event in the region with almost all of their sports facilities and venues already in place.

“We only need to have the grandstand for a better sports venue,” Mayor Cari said.

She said that sporting venues for such as track and field, swimming, badminton and basketball are already in place and ready for use. Additional comfort rooms would also be set up. Cari likewise added that this early, the city government has already identified schools, for the billeting of athletes, coaches and other officials who would be joining the event. “We have already chosen schools near the city where the athletes would be housed. We have more than enough for them,” Mayor Cari disclosed. Some 6,000 delegates and athletes, coaches and officials are expected to converge in Leyte for the EVRAA Meet that features football, badminton, athletics, gymnastics, softball, table tennis, taekwondo, arnis, boxing, tennis, volleyball, archery, basketball, chess, baseball, sepak takraw and swimming.

EVRAA is an annual competition of the best athletes in the elementary and high school levels and serves as a qualifying game to the Palarong Pambansa. This 2013, Leyte hosted the event at the Leyte Sports Development Center.