The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has allocated PHP50 million for the staging of this year’s National Batang Pinoy Games in Davao del Norte.
PSC Commissioner Celia Kiram, who is also the tournament’s project director, said 11,300 athletes from 267 local government units (LGUs) will join the competition scheduled on Nov. 27 to Dec. 2 in Tagum City, the capital of Davao del Norte.
The National Batang Pinoy Games, which features 600 events in 26 sports, is open to athletes 17 years old and below.
Kiram said the National Batang Pinoy Games is aimed at intensifying PSC’s grassroots program for athletes who will compete in the Youth Olympics and other tournaments, such as the Children of Asia in Russia before they are included in the national team.
The PSC will provide a PHP3,000 allowance to all participants in the National Batang Pinoy Games. Each LGU can field 75 athletes.
Meanwhile, Philippine Sports Institute national director Marc Velasco announced that a Talent Identification team will attend the National Batang Pinoy Games to closely monitor the athletes and conduct a series of seminars with LGU sports directors and coaches. PNA