OVER 6,000 athletes and officials are seeing action in the first Palarong Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Athletic Association (Barmaa) that officially kicked off Thursday, January 16, in Nuro, Upi, Maguindanao.
Barmm Executive Secretary Abdulraof Macacua declared the region-wide athletic meet open, which will run until Tuesday, January 21, with athletes both from elementary and secondary schools competing in the following sports: archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, basketball, billiards, boxing, chess, football, futsal, pencaks silat, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, wrestling, and wushu.
Minister Mohager Iqbal of the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) said that the MBHTE “is keen to provide every student in the Bangsamoro quality education for their overall development, including their nutrition, health, and physical growth.”
“The Barmm, through the Education Ministry, shall endeavor to strengthen the physical education and sports development in all institutions in this region,” Iqbal said.
Iqbal also encouraged the youths in the Barmm to be more involved in sports, citing that it is “an excellent means to channel their youthful energy into positive and worthwhile pursuits that would ultimately enable them to become well-rounded adults and professionals in the future.”
The delegates to the Barmmaa are composed of 740 athletes from Maguindanao I, Maguindanao II with 581 athletes, Lanao Sur I with 570, Lanao Sur II with 650, Marawi City with 450, Lamitan City with 347, Basilan with 429, Sulu with 450, Tawi-Tawi with 532 athletes and 536 number of officiating officials and staff.
Iqbal said the emerging champions in the Palarong Barmmaa will represent the Barmm in the upcoming 2020 Palarong Pambansa.
This year’s Palarong Barmmaa is anchored on the theme “Sports Exellence – Pathway to United, Peaceful and Prosperous Bangsamoro.” (SunStar Zamboanga)