2,000 delegates to join Unigames

AS LEAD host, Silliman University is expecting more than 2,000 athlete-participants representing 45 schools and universities from various parts of the country to compete in the 15th Unigames in Dumaguete City.

SU communication director Mark Garcia told Sun.Star that a total of 2,278 delegates, including 286 coaches, confirmed to join the Unigames 2010. The number is expected to increase as the deadline set on October 15 nears.

With a number of visitors for this activity, Unigames co-convenor Earl Jude Cleope of Silliman University said sports tourism and local livelihood are foreseen to get a boost with an expected budget of P3 million so far from Silliman University and Negros Oriental government for this event.

The public and sports enthusiasts are free to watch all the games in different playing venues.

Cleope said track and field will be held in a rubberized oval at Mariano Perdices Coliseum, swimming at Aqua Center, football and archery at SU Ballfield, tennis at the Praxivilla Tennis Court, and the rest of the sports events in the municipalities of Valencia and Zamboanguita.

This year's Unigames will be a continuation of the Buglasan Festival celebration in Negros Oriental slated October 24-30.

The colorful spectacle of Negros Oriental's unique Buglasan festival of festivals culminates on October 24 as it will also welcome the delegates of the Unigames with a big rave of "Kasikas sa Kalye" and a fireworks competition.

The organizers are expecting the participating schools to join the Buglasan revelry to give them a chance to discover the beauty of Dumaguete City at the boulevard where "Kumbira sa Boulevard," or food fest, will be held. (Victor L. Camion)