Drop in foreign participants seen

Photo from Mt. Apo Sky and Vertical Race 2020 event page
Photo from Mt. Apo Sky and Vertical Race 2020 event page

A TOURISM official of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur anticipates fewer foreign contenders in the Mt. Apo Sky and Vertical Race slated in April this year due to the presence of novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV ARD)-infected persons in the country.

Foreign professional runners join Mt. Apo Sky and Vertical Race because it is an accredited event by the International Trail Running Association, Ultra Trail Mont Blanc, and Asia Trail Master.

"Mas mugamay ang participants from foreign countries tungod anang corona (There will be few participants from the foreign countries because of the coronavirus)," Sta. Cruz tourism officer Julius Paner said in a press conference Wednesday, February 5.

He added that while most of the participants of the race came from European countries like Spain and Italy, they could be restricted by possible travel bans.

He said there are also racers coming from Southeast Asian countries like Hong Kong, Thailand, and Singapore.

On Wednesday, February 5, through TV Patrol Southern Mindanao, Civil Aviations Authority of the Philippines (Caap) Davao airport manager Rex Obcena announced that Cathay Dragon cancelled its Hong Kong to Davao direct flights from February 11 to 28.

"It lures a lot of foreign contingents. For the last three years nga naghold mi ani, naa sa 20 percent of the participants are coming from foreign countries (Twenty percent of the participants since we've been holding the event the past three years are foreigners)," he said.

"Hopefully, the challenges in terms of coronavirus will be over soon so they will not be hampered," he said.

The 4th Mt. Apo Sky and Vertical Race will be staged on April 25 and 26 at the Mt Apo trail in Sta. Cruz where participants will run, climb, or trek for 50K and 100K categories.

Paner said the two-day race targets only around 100 participants, adhering to the regulations of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The event is also in partnership with the Department of Tourism, DENR, Visit Davao Summer Festival, and some private companies.

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