A total of 10,746 participants took part in this year’s Philippine Sports Commission’s Children’s Games, a major component of the national sports agency’s Sports for Peace Program.
Held in 22 cities, municipalities and provinces this year, the PSC project exceeded last year’s participants of 10,000.
Philippine Sports Institute (PSI) deputy director Marlon Malbog reported the successful staging of the event the other day during the PSI coordinators fourth quarterly meeting that was opened by PSC Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez at the PhilSports Complex Dorm G Multi-Purpose Hall.
Ramirez said it’s the duty of the state to create a healthy youth and start values and character formation early.
“The numbers of the Children’s Games and Sports for Peace was an effective tool of children at an early age doing peace-making, physical fitness, inspiring them to study and break the cycle of poverty,” the PSC chief said.
He added, “The mantra of President Rodrigo R. Duterte is to make sports accessible to the periphery especially to the poor communities and the marginalized.”
Children’ Games and youth volunteers training were conducted in Bataan, Dumaguete City, Tagbilaran City, Bogo, Mandaue City, Iloilo City, Passi City in Iloilo, Ormoc City, Maasin City, Libagon City, Macrohon City, Liloan, Payatas, San Pedro City, Binan City, Casiguran, Padada in Davao del Sur, Digos City, Lupon and Mati City in Davao Oriental, Asuncion in Davao del Norte and in war-torn Marawi City.
A total of 7,870 children were also tested via the Smart ID talent identification while 3,344 participated in various PSI grassroots sports activities like coaches’ clinics, sports science seminars, consultative meetings and workshops.
