5,000 student-athletes magbabakbakan na

MANILA, Philippines - Matapos ang kasiyahan sa opening ceremonies kahapon, bakbakan naman ang matutunghayan sa pormal na pagsisimula ngayon ng 2010 CHED National Games.

Humigit-kumulang sa 5,000 student-athletes mu­la sa 17 rehiyon ang sasabak sa inilatag na 16 sports events na inorga­nisa ng Commission on Higher Education (CHED) at suportado ng Philippine Sports Commission, Smart at San Miguel Corp.

Ang athletics at swimming events ay isasagawa sa Rizal Memorial Sports Complex kung saan idinaos ang opening rites na pinamunuan nina CHED chairman Dr. Emmanuel Angeles at PSC chief Harry Angping.

“The CHED National Games would not be possible without the support of our President, Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, whose vision is to have an integrated sports development program for the country,” ani Angeles.

Maliban sa athletics, swimming at boxing, ang iba pang sports events ay ang baseball, basketball, beach volleyball, football, sepak takraw, softball, volleyball, chess, judo, karatedo, lawn tennis, swimming, table tennis at taekwondo.

Para sa 2010 CHED Na­tional Games, walang idedeklarang overall champion at sa halip ay kikilalanin ang mga top performers sa mga individual competitions kagaya ng track and field at swimming.

“We are optimistic from these crop of athletes will emerge our future gold medalists both in the Asian and Olympic Games,” dagdag ni Angeles.

Makulay na opening ceremonies ang sinaksihan kahapon ng halos 20,000 estudyante mula sa private, public at government schools, colleges at universities sa Metro Manila sa Rizal Memorial Stadium. (Russell Cadayona)