Over 80 Ilocos Norte athletes to compete in Palarong Pambansa ‘17

Over 12,000 expected participants across the country are set to join the 60th Palarong Pambansa will officially open on April 23 at EBJ Sports Complex, San Jose, Antique. (Photo: Palarong Pambansa 2017/ Facebook)

LAOAG CITY–More than 80 student-athletes from Ilocos Norte are set to join around 470 athletes to represent Region 1 in the Palarong Pambansa 2017 in Antique.

Together with 19 coaches and chaperones, most of the province’s athletes came from the Schools Divisions of Laoag City, Batac City and Ilocos Norte.

They are set to represent Region 1 in athletics, baseball, gymnastics, sepak takraw, tennis, baseball, chess, taekwondo, football and swimming.

Majority of the delegation arrived on April 10 at their billeting quarters in Sibalom Central Elementary School and Sibalom National High School in Antique.

They started their two-week training on April 11 in various sports venues near their billeting schools situated in the municipality of Sibalom.

Assistant Regional Director Bettina D. Aquino arrived on the 19th in Sibalom, Antique, while Regional Director Alma Ruby C. Torio, Schools Division Superintendents and Assistant Schools Division Superintendents will join the delegation in the next few days.

With 14 schools divisions, Region 1 is composed of four provinces namely Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan.

Over 12,000 expected participants across the country are set to join the 60th Palarong Pambansa will officially open on April 23 at EBJ Sports Complex, San Jose, Antique.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Department of Education Secretary Leonor Briones as well as local officials led by Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao are expected to grace the event.

A welcome program for the regional delegations and technical officials will be held simultaneously on April 21 in their respective billeting schools.

On April 22, a solidarity meeting will be held at SAC Covered Gym, San Jose, Antique at 8:00 a.m.

A Governor’s Night will be held at 7:00 p.m. on the same day at the EBJ Freedom Park in the same municipality. It will be attended by an estimate of 900 officials from all regions.

Games proper will kick off on Tuesday, April 24 and will conclude on Saturday, April 29.

Awarding and closing ceremonies will be conducted at 4:00 p.m. at EBJ Sports Complex, San Jose, Antique.

The theme for this year’s competition is “2017 Palarong Pambansa: Converges Youth Power, Builds Sustainable Future”.