AROUND 300 athletes joined this year's Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) Global Laser-Run City hosted by the Ormoc City Government and the Philippine Modern Pentathlon Association.
Dubbed as "Ormoc City Laser Run 2018," the event is the first in the Philippines and in Eastern Visayas region.
“This Laser-Run is a run and shoot event, with the use of a laser gun, for all ages from 9 under to 15 above. We invited all who would like to play, even from international, and we are happy we are hosting this today,” Mayor Richard Gomez told reporters during the opening of the game Saturday, March 3.
Gomez said the event is part of the sports tourism program of Ormoc.
“We asked the permission from the UMPM, the world pentathlon, to hold the laser run... I encourage children to become athletes and play because I want them to be physically fit, take them away from drugs, and develop the healthy lifestyle,” he said.
He also thanked the Ormoc Lions Host Club, Kids Foundation, and other private companies for their support.
He said winners will receive medals as their "bragging rights."
“We are already doing good. This is a good chance to start,” said Olympian Deniss Cerkovkis of Latvia who came to Ormoc City to help in organizing the event.
Cerkovkis said holding the Laser-Run in the city is feasible, adding that Gomez “is doing a great job...as he understands a lot in sports.”
German national Bernhard Petruschinsui, an international expert of the UIPM laser-run, said he is happy that Gomez has realized the plan to host such kind of sports. (SunStar Philippines)