12th Cebu Open dancesport on today

CEBU, Philippines —  Buoyed by the success of its biweekly barangay-based dancesport competitions online,the Cebu City Sports Commission in association with Team Cebu City Dancesport shifts to higher gear - from local to international this time.

Hundreds of dancing couples across the country and other parts of the world will showcase their skills in pursuit of top honors in the virtual 12th Cebu Open dancesport tournament starting today.

“Cebu is making history,” said CCSC chairman Edward Hayco. “We may be organizing not just Asia’s largest, but probably the biggest online dancesport competition in the world.This may yet be another milestone for Cebu City.”

Hayco said as of their latest count, at least 500 dance athletes have already registered for the two-day tilt this weekend including a hundred from Asia and Russia.

Hayco shared that they were able to put up such a huge event because of the positive outcome of their biweekly tournaments that ran for five months already.

“Our volunteer dance teachers have devoted their time to provide free grassroots online dancersport competitions for our public school athletes,” said Hayco.

“Despite the devastating pandemic and lockdowns, Dancesport Team Cebu City has never stopped, and have always been at the forefront of providing transformational activities for the public school youth,”Hayco added.

Hayco said all of their worthwhile undertakings would not have been made possible without the support of mayor Edgardo Labella, Philippine Sports Commission chairman William “Butch” Ramirez, PSC commissioner Mon Fernandez, CCSC vice chairman Lorenzo “Chao” Sy,executive director Amilo Lopez, councilor Dondon Hontiveros, school board chairman Raddy Diola, and DepEd-Cebu City Schools Division Superintendent Rhea Mar Angtud.

“We would like to thank them for their unwavering support,” said Hayco.

The 12th Cebu Open will be streamed live on the Facebook page of Dancesport Team Cebu City.