Four sporting events lined up for Sinulog

Four sporting events spice up next year’s Sinulog celebration as the Cebu City Sports Commission and the Sinulog Foundation mount the second Sinulog Fun Run, the Sinulog Football Cup, the Guinness world record attempt for the biggest chess tournament in the world and a softball and baseball tournament.

The Sinulog Fun Run will unfold on Dec. 30 while the softball and baseball tournament is already ongoing at the Labangon Elementary School field. The Sinulog Football Cup is slated on Jan. 7-8 next year.

During yesterday’s press launching at the Cebu City Sports Center, Sinulog Foundation chairman Ricky Ballesteros said that the sports events will add excitement and fun to the Sinulog.

“We have to include sports so that next year’s Sinulog will have additional fun and excitement,” said Ballesteros.

Also at the press launch were Cebu City Sports Commission (CCSC) executive director Brando Velasquez, Sinulog Fun Run project coordinator Dolly Suzara, Sinulog Fun Run chairman Prescillano Capangpangan and Sinulog Football Cup chairman Francis Ramirez.

Last year’s Sinulog Fun Run drew around a thousand runners and organizers are optimistic to attract the same number of runners with the race route to follow the five-kilometer official carousel route of the Sinulog Grand Parade.

According to Capangpangan, six water stations will be deployed to ensure enough hydration for the runners. The race will also offer the biggest prize money for a 5k race, with the male and female winner getting P10,000 each.

Registration fee is pegged at P200 while finishers will get a limited edition Sinulog shirt. To register visit the Cebu City Sports Center, deadline will be on Dec. 28.

Ballesteros also announced that the new Sinulog jingle entitled “Welcome to Cebu” will be played during the race.

SOFTBALL AND BASEBALL

The revival of one of Cebu’s most popular sports in the 80s and 90s – softball and baseball — continues as 30 teams are now vying in five divisions at the Labangon Elementary School open field.

Categories are T-Ball (5-10 years old), boys baseball elementary, softball elementary, softball secondary and women’s open.

Softball secondary has 16 teams while the women’s open has four teams composed of Abellana National School, Compostela, Bogo NCC and Paknaan.

Boys elementary baseball has six teams while T-Ball has four. Close to P100,000 is earmarked for the tournament.

CHESS TOURNAMENT

According to Velasquez, their Guinness attempt to break the record currently held by Russia with 1,200 participants has been unofficially surpassed after the Cebu City Sports Commission attracted 20,000 participants coming from Cebu City’s public schools after CCSC commissioner Edward Hayco implemented a chess tournament in each public school almost six months ago.

Hayco is expecting some 40,000 to compete before the championship round to be held at the sports center in January.

Cebu also holds the world record for the biggest dance class.

FOOTBALL

The 185 competing teams will play in two separate venues, at the University of San Carlos-Talamban field and at the San Roque football field in Mandaue City.

With the Aboitiz Football Cup being played on weekends, Ramirez said he will try his best to persuade Aboitiz organizers to give way to the two-day Sinulog Football Cup.

“I already sent them a letter to give way to us. But if they disagree, then we will have to adjust our schedule to prevent any conflict,” said Ramirez.

Last year, 130 teams competed in the tournament and organizers expressed elation over the record 185-team turnout this year which will be divided into the Players 6, Players 8, Players 10, boys 12, boys 14, girls 14, boys 17, girls 17, ladies open, inter-BPO, 38-above and the men’s open divisions.