NCR delegates to arrive today

MEMBERS of the National Capital Region (NCR) team will arrive today as they gear up to defend their title in the 5th National Milo Little Olympics this weekend in various venues around the city.

According to Visayas delegation head and organizer Ricky Ballesteros, some of the athletes and their parents of team NCR arrived yesterday while the rest of the 403 members will arrive today. They will be billeted at the Sarossa International Hotel and Residential Suites. Team Luzon will arrive on Thursday along with the delegates from Mindanao.

Ballesteros said team Visayas, whose athletes in one way or another have been affected by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake last Oct. 15 and supertyphoon Yolanda last Nov. 8, is ready to try and reclaim the national title it won in the event’s first three editions.

“Not only are we driven by skilled teams this year, we also have a very strong, personal motivation to win,” Ballesteros said. “Recent events have caused many of our friends and families great distress. The MILO Little Olympics gives us – especially the students – something to hope and to fight for.”

Milo and local organizers checked on all participating schools in the Visayas region and confirmed that none of the students were hurt. “All athletes have been accounted for even those in severely affected areas such as Bohol and the Western Visayan region. We are very relieved and grateful for their safety,” added Ballesteros.

Organizers are also doubling their efforts to assure that all sports venues are fit for competition. Each venue will have two security teams trained extensively for emergency response. There will also be liaison officers to ensure that communications guidelines are carried out. All tournament managers and safety officers have also been trained and briefed accordingly.

“The key to our success will always be preparation. We have inspected all venues and developed an alternative plan for all possible scenarios like typhoons, earthquakes and security threats,” Milo Sports Executive Robbie de Vera said in a press release.

Meanwhile, to show respect to victims of the earthquake and supertyphoon, organizers said they will keep the event simple. “In consideration for all those affected by the calamities, we have toned down the celebration as a sign of respect and solemnity,” de Vera said. /Correspondent Dale G. Rosal