Stage set for Davraa 2013

DAVAO DEL NORTE - All roads lead to the new Davao del Norte Sports and Cultural Center (DNSCC) today for the grand opening of the week-long Davao Region Athletic Association (Davraa) meet.

Davao del Norte Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario said the province is now ready to play host to some 5,000 athletes, coaches and officials from six cities and four provinces in Davao Region.

"We are ready for the games," the governor declared.

Del Rosario personally supervised preparations at the P243-million state-of-the-art sports complex, which will first open its door as the main venue for the annual sporting event for school-based elementary and secondary athletes in Southern Mindanao.

First District Congressman Anthony del Rosario will be the keynote speaker at the much-anticipated kick off ceremony at 3 p.m. Monday.
The day's activity will start with a mass, followed by a short parade of athletes from the Provincial Capitol to the venue.

The 10 delegations include the divisions of Davao City, Davao del Norte, Tagum City, Panabo City, Island Garden City of Samal, Davao Oriental, Mati City, Compostela Valley, and Davao del Sur, and Digos City.

Davraa serves as the elimination venue for the regional contingent in the Palarong Pambansa in Dumaguete City this coming April.

It features 18 sporting events that will be held at the sports center and other venues in the city, to include the Atrium of the New Tagum City Hall, Energy Park, Rotary Park, San Miguel Gym, and Apokon Gym.

Public schools in the city will serve as billeting centers for the various delegations.

For the first time in the history of the Davraa, a nighttime football event will be held courtesy of giant outdoor floodlights installed in the oval field consisting of 96 bulbs.

Del Rosario said the province's hosting of the event is more than just a dry run for the new facility, since Davraa is the most prestigious athletic event in the region.

The governor hinted the prestige of the latest facility highly depends on the success of the sporting event.

Another celebrated sporting event is already in the bag to be hosted by the province this year. After Davraa, preparations will follow for the holding of the Batang Pinoy Games at the modern sportsplex this coming month of August.

The facility will again see action in the coming Private Schools Athletic Association (Prisaa) meet on April 2014, while the province intensified its bid to host the 2015 Palarong Pambansa.