ILOILO City – A total of 2,394 medals are at stake in the Western Visayas Regional Athletics Association (WVRAA) Meet 2023 in Aklan from April 26 to 30.
The regional sports event officially opened at the Aklan Sports Complex in Barangay Calangcang, Makato town yesterday afternoon.
This year’s WVRAA Meet is themed “Championing Excellence Through Sports”.
According to the Department of Education (DepEd) Region 6, 758 gold, 758 silver and 878 bronze medals await the winners – 954 for elementary athletes and 1,440 for secondary athletes.
There are 24 sports events in the secondary level and 15 sports events in the elementary level – archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball 3×3, basketball elementary and secondary, billiard, boxing, chess, dancesport, football, futsal, gymnastics, paragames, goalball, bocce, pencak silat, sepak takraw elementary and secondary, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis elementary and secondary, volleyball elementary boys and girls, volleyball secondary boys and girls, wrestling, and wushu.
The sporting events are being held in the towns of Kalibo, Makato, Numancia, Tangalan, Ibajay, Lezo, New Washington, Banga, and Malinao.
A total of 3,438 delegates from Negros Occidental (847), Iloilo (787), Antique (744), Aklan (742), Capiz (681), and Guimaras (381) are participating.
Dr. Ramir B. Uytico, DepEd-6 director, assured the safety of delegates, especially against the intense heat and coronavirus disease 2019.
Uytico said the safety and health of learners are more important, which is why the DepEd-6, together with schools division offices, implements health protocols.
“Kahit mag-produce tayo ng champion, kung hindi naman safe, healthy ang mga bata, useless pa din ang pagsisikap natin,” said Uytico.
DepEd-6 has designated an isolation area or room for delegates with symptoms of diseases.
“May room na pwedeng doon muna magpahinga kung sobrang nainitan or mag-faint,” added Uytico.
There are special lanes at the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital for delegates who may need emergency treatment.
Ambulances are also on standby and medical teams are deployed in all venues of sports events./PN
