‘Expanded program’

THE Cebu City Sports Commission (CCSC) is setting an ambitious target, to outshine the National Archery School Program of the US.

Yesterday, CCSC, the Cebu Archers Club and the Department of Education Cebu City Division launched the grassroots archery development program at the Sugbo grounds, hoping to erase the record currently held by USA for the world’s largest archery tournament.

“We chose archery because it is very artistic. We partnered with the Cebu Archers Club not only to find a gold medalist from the barangays but to help transform their lives as well,” said CCSC chairman Edward Hayco.

Hayco cited the example of Dondon Simborio, who rose from poverty and earned a college degree through his dedication to archery.

After two failed tries in Thailand and Laos, Simborio brought home archery’s first-ever gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games.

Starting February until November, CAC will spearhead the mass training of school kids in the elementary and high schools in Cebu City.

“We want you to make the difference to the kids in the barangays, teach them archery and maybe you can find our potential Olympic medalist from their ranks,” Hayco said.

CCSC is targeting a total of 10,000 participants who will join Cebu City’s attempt to break the record established by NASP. The NASP had 7,804 in a two-day tournament in Kentucky in May 2012.

CAC president Gordon Allan Joseph accepted the challenge and vowed to do their part in giving CCSC its third Guinness World Record.

To help launch the event, CAC started the three-day 1st Cebu Sinulog Archery Cup , which gathered archers from Cebu and Dumaguete.

The teams are from Marigondon National High School, Talisay City Archers Club, Divine Angels Learning, Maria Montessori International School, Cebu Normal University, Don Carlos A. Gothong Memorial National High School, Dumaguete City Archers and Mandaue City.

CCSC and CAC will start the project with a seminar next month, which is expected to gather teachers and student coaches who will be tasked to teach and train the kids in public schools.

The record-breaking attempt is expected to be held in November.