Bigger,better CCSC summer camp starts April 9

CEBU, Philippines — To strengthen the foundation of  student-athletes, the Cebu City Sports Commission together with Cebu City councilor Augustus Joy Young launched a stronger ‘Summer Grassroots Sports Training Program’ that will begin on April 9 in different venues.

In a press conference yesterday at the Port restaurant, Young expressed his desire to sharpen the athletic skills of students coming from public schools.

“I have always wanted athletes from public schools to perform well,” said Young. "During the recent CVIRAA Meet, they only produced 15 percent of the total gold medals that is why I want to focus on them. Our main goal is to improve our performance in the Palarong Pambansa and I think a solid  grassroots program will be the key."

Aside from a long term goal, Young also wanted the sports training program to help in instilling good characters to children.

CCSC chairman Edward Hayco, for his part said that he is expecting a bigger turnout of participants this time surpassing the 7,000 children who took part last year.

CCSC has designated several public elementary schools as venues for the training camp. For those who are in the North District, the venues include City Central School, Hipodromo Elementary School, Lahug Elementary School, Mabolo Elementary School, Tejero Elementary School, Zapatera Elementary School, Bo. Luz Elementary School and Talamban Elementary School.

For the South District, aspiring student-athletes may train at the Don Vicente Rama Memorial Elementary School gym, Pardo Elementary School, Mambaling Elementary School, Labangon Elementary School, Punta Princesa Elementary School, Guadalupe Elementary School, Inayawan Elementary School, San Nicolas Elementary School, Oppra Elementary School, Tisa Elementary School and Cebu City Sports Institute.

Kids ranging from six to 18 years old can chose a wide variety of sports to train such as basketball, archery, air rifle, arnis, badminton, beach volleyball, boxing, chess, muay thai, dancesports, futsal, karatedo, lawn tennis, pencak silat, scrabble, sepak takraw, softball, baseball, table tennis, taekwondo, touch rugby, track and field, volleyball, weightlifting, wushu, and gymnastics.