ILOILO City – The staging of the 24th Philippine University Games (UNIGAMES) here, which will gather more than 2,500 delegates from colleges and universities in the Philippines, is expected to boost this city’s sports tourism.
Roger Banzuela, president and chairman of UNIGAMES, said they are expecting 40 colleges and universities to join the tournament from Oct. 19 to 27 and hosted by the University of San Agustin (USA).
Last year, around 30 colleges and universities joined the 23rd edition in Dumaguete City.
“We would like to congratulate the host; you are helping the Iloilo community in terms of sports tourism and the business sector of Iloilo,” Banzuela said.
If each of the delegates will just spend P300 a day for their meals, excluding snacks, transportation and souvenirs, then it means some P750,000 circulating in the city for food alone, he said. In 10 days that is equivalent to some P7.5 million.
Banzuela said this year’s number of participating schools is higher because of the involvement of the 2019 Collegiate Grand Slam in conjunction with the women’s volleyball championships of the UNIGAMES.
The women’s volleyball indoor competition will be called the 2019 UNIGAMES-Collegiate Grand Slam 2nd Dominic Sytin Cup.
Fray Stephen Ong Tan, OSA, overall chair of the USA’s steering committee, said they are giving security, in terms of preparations, an utmost priority.
He shared that proper coordination has been made with the Philippine National Police, accredited hospitals, emergency responders and other concerned sectors.
“We are in the stage of already implementing our security measures. We’ve already done our orientation,” Tan added, stating that USA also hosted the UNIGAMES in 2014.
He added the city government’s Meetings, Incentives, Travel, Conference, Convention, Exhibitions, Events (MICE) Center has been lending them a hand in the preparations.
Quoting MICE center executive director Salvador D. Sarabia Jr., Tan said they will be showcasing to the delegates the “historical and cultural values of Ilonggos”.
“Why are we welcoming UNIGAMES? Because it is one of the eight institutional advocacies of the university – sports advocacy,” he added.
The athletes will be billeted in the main campus of the university, where the majority of the classrooms are air-conditioned and the Sambag campus in Jaro district. If they could not be accommodated in the two campuses, the university is partnering with the Iloilo Doctors’ College.
However, athletes from Manila could be staying in hotels, too. “We are almost 85 to 90 percent ready in terms of billeting venues,” he said.
The opening program for the UNIGAMES will be held in the afternoon of Oct. 20 after the 2 p.m. Eucharistic celebration at the USA gymnasium.
Among the events are athletics, basketball, football, volleyball, and beach volleyball to be held in various playing venues in Iloilo City.
This year’s edition of the UNIGAMES is themed “The Games that Bring Us Together for Unity and Peace.” (PNA)
