Radaza bats for extensive grassroots sports program

CEBU, Philippines - Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza has urged all stakeholders concerned to come up with a comprehensive grassroots sports development program in an effort to produce top caliber athletes for their city in the future.

Radaza said in her speech during the opening of the City’s Palaro at MABES grounds yesterday that there is a need to develop their athletes to be very competitive.

“As we race to host more international sporting events here in the city, we cannot beat our breast in triumph if our grassroots sports program fails to develop athletes that have a chance to win in regional, national or international sporting events,” she said.

Radaza added that it is but ironic for them to host international event while local athletes cannot even race toe-to toe with the rest in the region.

For instance in the Central Visayas Regional Athletics Association (CVIRAA) Meet, Lapu-Lapu City couldn't even make an impression.

There's no question that Lapu-Lapu has a plethora of talents especially in volleyball, gymnastics, chess and an athletics, but the development of their athletes could not be nurtured due to lack of a viable and concrete program for them.

To address that concern, Radaza has called on the attention of the city's sports commission, the education sector and the barangay officials among others to conduct regular meetings so they can synchronize their sporting activities as well as come up with a concrete road map for their sports development with emphasis on the grassroots level