The upcoming Zamboanga Peninsula Regional Athletic Association (ZPRAA) Qualifying Games 2024, which Zamboanga City will host from April 21 to 27, will adapt to the city’s soaring heat index brought about by the current El Niño phenomenon.
Former city councilor and now Philippine Sports Commission consultant Elbert Atilano told the press conference on Monday, April 15, that most of the games will be played only during early morning and late afternoon to early evening every day, given the fact the JFE Memorial Sports Complex is well equipped with lighting facilities.
Atilano said the time adjustment of the games aims to keep the athletes from direct exposure to the scorching heat between 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. although no specific time was given yet.
The press briefing was held after the ZPRAA Organixing Committee chaired by Mayor John Dalipe had its final meeting Monday, April 15. It was presided by City Sports Division Chief Dr. Cecil Atilano and also attended by Dr. Basilio Uy and Dr. Jane de la Torre of the Division of City Schools and Maj. Beethoven Buenaobra of the ZCPO.
For the first time in 18 years, Zamboanga City under the present administration of Mayor John Dalipe hosts the ZPRAA Games 2024 to be participated in by more or less 10,000 student-athletes and technical officials from 8 delegations all over the Zampen Region.
This early, five days to the opening on Sunday, some athletic delegations started to arrive in the city as billeting schools have already been prepared with the necessary facilities from water supply to electricity.
The city government has allocated P27 million for hosting this year’s Regional Meet, and Mayor Dalipe has mobilized all resources of the LGU to ensure the success of the region-wide sporting event.
With the JFE Sports Complex in Baliwasan as main venue of most of the games, other schools have also been designated as venues for other events. Shuttle buses and jeepneys are put on standby to ferry the athletes from their respective billeting stations to the sports venue. (Vic Larato)
(Source: City Government of Zamboanga Facebook page)