'Learn to Play a Sports program' reels off Sunday

Friday, April 29, 2011

THE 16th Basic Summer Camp dubbed "Learn to Play a Sports program" will kick off on May 1, ensuring the youths a wholesome and worthwhile experience during the hot month.

City Sports Director Bernardito Patiño said Friday the program is open to all youth aged five to 15 (boys and girls) and will be a month-long training on 26 sports disciplines for free.

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The sports events include aikido/arnis (eight years above); athletics (six years and not more than 12 years old); basketball (five years above); baseball, body building (12 years and above); boxing (eight years above); chess (five years and above); dance sport, fencing, football, gymnastics (five years above); judo, karate-do (five years above); lawn tennis, muay thai, pencak silat (seven years above); sepak takraw, softball, swimming (eight years above); table tennis (six years above); taekwondo (four years above); volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling (five years above) and wushu (five years above).

Now on its 16th year, Patiño said, the program is part of the City Government's sports development program and is one of the highlights of the 2011 Summer Festival.

It has become a crucial component or part of the city's progress, Patiño said.

Meanwhile, Mayor Celso Lobregat said a number of Zamboanga City's athletes who have won medals in local and international sports competitions started from the program.

The activity is being implemented by the city through the office of Patiño.

He said interested applicants may get registration forms at the City Sports Division located at the Joaquin F. Enriquez, Jr. Memorial Sports Complex or from any of the Sports Athletic Associations in this city.

Registration is ongoing until Saturday.

Last year, over 3,000 young students and out-of-school youths participated in this city's Basic Summer Camp. (Bong Garcia)