City Olympics opens amidst jitters from supertyphoon

The 23rd Cebu City Olympics officially opened yesterday amidst fears of a looming supertyphoon that’s expected to hit the Visayas region early Friday.

Games will go on as scheduled in different venues today although DepEd Cebu City Division Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Rhea Mar Angtud said the meet may be halted once ‘Typhoon Yolanda’ makes landfall.

Cebu City Mayor Michael L. Rama in his message during yesterday’s opening ceremony at the Cebu City Sports Center, urged everyone to pray as “prayers will be our best weapon in times of calamity.” He said that the city government is prepared to face ‘Typhoon Yolanda’ which weather experts said packs maximum winds of more than 200 kilometers.

“We did not postpone this event because this will determine who will man team Cebu City in the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) next month,” said Angtud during her speech. However, she revealed that contingency measures are already in place to ensure everyone’s safety. She also said that once signal No. 1 will be hoisted over the province, the games will be automatically suspended.

Around 2,200 athletes joined the opening program along with Cebu City Division Sports Coordinator Zenaida Gocotano and DepEd Education Supervisor Faviolito Alberca.

Fifth ASEAN Schools Games 2013 bronze medalist for volleyball Ulyross Lopez of Abellana National School (ANS) lit the urn to signify the formal opening of the multi-sporting meet. He was joined by UC’s Fritz Michael Sagaad a badminton quarterfinalist in the 5th ASEAN School Games in Hanoi,Vietnam who led the oath of amateurism.

Louie Mateo led the oath of coaches while Renezar Ferrolino led the oath of officiating officials.

South District Seven’s Mary Grace Aya-ay was crowned elementary division ‘Best Muse’ while Marya Ysabel Cabido of ANS took the high school title. Thesaly Tejano of North District 3 and Ellaine Jane Becerel of South District Four took runners-up honors in the elementary division while Rica Jane Rivera of University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) and Sheen Marie Fabular of North District 7 finished 2nd and 3rd in the secondary division.

The USJ-R Wushu Team members wowed the crowd with their graceful moves in a wushu demonstration.