Davao del Norte - A team from the Philippine Sports Commission will arrive on July 28 to check Davao del Norte’s capacity to co-host the Southeast Asian Games in 2019.
“Karong 28 sa Hulyo, next week, moabot ang team gikan sa Philippine Sports Commission aron sugdan ang pag-inspeksyon sa atong sports facilities agig pagpangandam sa 2019 SEA games,” said Giovanni I. Gulanes, Assistant Provincial Administrator and Provincial Sports Coordinator, during the Kapihan sa Kapitolyo media forum on Thursday.
The official revealed the bid for “joint sponsorship” of Davao City and Davao del Norte to host the international sporting event, since the province has a state-of-the-art sports complex.
In his meeting with members of the Davao Region Multi-Media Group (DRMMG), Governor Anthony del Rosario assured the readiness of the province to host the SEA Games.
“We are definitely ready,” he assured the members of the media.
It can be recalled that the province successfully hosted the 2015 Palarong Pambansa, which was mainly staged at the spanking Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex (DNSTC).
Officials, athletes and spectators tagged the national games in the province as the “Best Palaro Ever” for its superb organizing of all the events and programs for the duration of the games.
DNSTC also played host to other big ticket sporting events, to include the Davao Region Athletic Association (DAVRAA) Meet, Regional and National Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) Meets, among other Mindanao and region-wide sectoral sporting events.
Gulanes is cheerful about the great prospect that the hosting the SEA Games will bring to the province.
“Kung ang Palarong Pambansa grabe kaayo ang dungog sa Davao del Norte sa Region XI, unsa na lang kaha ni nga SEA Games nga pagaapilan sa mga nasud sa entero Southeast Asia. Mailado gyod ang Davao del Norte (Davao del Norte earned praises for its excellent hosting of the Palaro. How much more with the SEA Games which pit the countries in Southeast Asia against each other),” Gulanes said.
Along with the thrust of fortifying its increasing prominence as the “Sports-Tourism Capital” in the region, the province also strengthened its comprehensive sports development program that serve other sectors.
This include the Musabaqah sports program for Muslims, DavNor-Talaingod Runners program, women in sports program, geriatics sports program for the elderly and sports program for the persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Sports competitions among PWDs were among the highlights of the celebration of the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week in the province.
The Davao del Norte Regional Sports Academy also started to cater to 45 students, who will be groomed to become sports champions and professionals.
