All set for Children's Games revival

All is set for the comeback of the Community Children's Games dubbed as "Duwa sa Kabataan' on November 1819 mainly at the Cebu City Sports Center. The two-day sporting meet is open to kids aged six to 12 years old.

“We are a 100% ready na. In fact, we are done with our mountain barangays Children's Games held last October. It was a very successful event. Lipay kaayo ang mga bata and they are waiting for the next na (Children's Games),” said Philippine Sports Commission (PSC)-7 Executive Director Sheldon Vincent “Boobi” Kintanar.

Around a thousand kids from the north and south mountain barangays joined the event staged last October 7-8 and then on October 1415. Kintanar is hoping that they would be able to draw the same number of entries in Cebu City.

“We are hoping that the kids will enjoy the same as what they have experienced during the last mountain barangay children's games and also we are hoping that the barangays will replicate it in the very near future.”

The first edition of the Children’s Games in Cebu was held in 2008, with at least 13 barangays competing in basketball, volleyball, badminton, chess, athletics, table tennis, and swimming.

For its revival, the PSC is expecting around 2,000 children from 80 barangays in Cebu City to compete in various disciplines that now include arnis, air rifle shooting, gymnastics, karatedo, taekwondo, judo, archery, and boxing.

Though the initiative of Philippine Sports Commssioner Ramon 'El Presidente' Fernandez, the PSC is reviving the games as part of its grassroots development project aimed at attracting more kids to get involved not only in sports but also in the cultural and performing arts. —

Gloreitta T. Lariosa