23rd Cebu City Olympics to push through amid players, coaches’ anxiety

DESPITE the crisis Cebu City is facing due to the recent 7.2 earthquake that devastated the province, the 23rd Cebu City Olympics will push through on Nov. 6-10 in various venues here.

Department of Education (DepEd) Cebu City Division Sports Coordinator and Cebu City Sports Commission (CCSC) commissioner Zenaida Gocotano and the coaches are hopeful for a successful hosting of the annual multi-sporting meet.

However, Gocotano said she has received complaints from the coaches who are worried about the Oct. 26 deadline for the submission of athletes’ credentials.

“We will conduct a series of meetings with the coaches and tournament managers to find a solution about this problem because in the end, all of us will suffer the consequences if we will not resolve this,” said Gocotano during yesterday’s meeting of coaches and tournament managers at the DepEd Cebu City Division office.

One of the most affected teams is the University of Cebu (UC) Table Tennis team headed by Coach Jessica Honoridez who had not practiced since the Oct. 15 quake.

The Cebu City Olympics will be followed by the rescheduled Fifth National Milo Little Olympics on Nov. 29 to Dec. 1 and the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) meet also to be hosted by Cebu City.

According to Honoridez, she worries about the mental condition of her players because of the trauma they experienced during the quake. She is also worried about their lack of preparation because her players’ parents won’t let their children practice with strong aftershocks still rumbling.

Although the venues of the multi-sporting events have been found safe, Cebu City and DepEd officials are anxious about how Cebuano athletes will perform in the CVIRAA.

Gocotano is hopeful though, that DepEd Region VII Director Dr. Carmelita Dulangon will come up with a good decision whether to push through with the CVIRAA or move it like the Fifth National Milo Little Olympics.

She added that she has yet to receive word from Bohol officials whether they will join the CVIRAA or not. “It will be a huge loss for CVIRAA if it competes in the Palarong Pambansa without Bohol’s athletes.

Region VII placed third this year in the Palarong Pambansa in Dumaguete City.

MEDAL STANDINGS

After years of utilizing the points system to determine the overall winner of the annual Cebu City Olympics and the CVIRAA meet, DepEd officials will now reverse to the traditional medal standings. The move though, was met with mixed reactions.  /CORRESPONDENT DALE G. ROSAL