FORTY-THREE cities and municipalities will battle for supremacy for the 2017 Batang Pinoy Visayas Leg, which officially opens today at the Lamberto L. Macias Sports and Cultural Center in Dumaguete City.
There will be 2,504 athletes who will vie for medals in the 19 events, which will award a total of 2,731 medals.
The meet for 15-under athletes hosted by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) will run until Nov. 16 in various fields here in Dumaguete City.
The sports to be contested are archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, boxing, chess, dancesports, karatedo, lawn tennis, pencak silat, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, volleyball and beach volleyball.
The local government units from Cebu who have sent teams are Cebu City, Cebu Province, Consolacion, Danao City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, San Fernando and Talisay.
Cebu City has the most athletes among Cebu squads with 234, followed by Cebu Province with 165, Mandaue City with 61, Danao City with 43, Lapu-Lapu City with 41, San Fernando with 32, Consolacion with 12 and Talisay City with seven.
Senator Miguel Zubiri, who is also the president of Philippine Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (Pekaf), will be present in the opening ceremony together with PSC Chairman Butch Ramirez.
The winners in the Visayas Leg will qualify to the Batang Pinoy National Championships in February next year. (RSC)