The Carlos P. Garcia Sports Complex is closed as feverish preparations start for the hosting of the 2018 national Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) meet slated on April 22.27 this year.
The rubberized oval is undergoing total revamp, aside from other works done inside the complex.
The provincial government has earmarked the needed budget to make the sports complex fit to host a national event three months from now.
An estimated 7,000 student-athletes and coaches from 18 different regions in the country will be arriving here to compete in the 2018 PRISAA meet.
Eighteen regions will participate in different sports disciplines during the national sports event.
Athletes both from the youth and senior division will compete in (team sports category) baseball, basketball, volleyball, beach volleyball, football, sepak takraw and softball; (individual sports) athletics, badminton, boxing, chess, dance sports, karate-do, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis and weightlifting; (academic and cultural) oratorical, vocal solo and duet, and the Mutya ng PRISAA competition.
PRISAA national president, Rev. Fr. Vicente L. Uy said preparations are on high gear for the forthcoming hosting of this year’s PRISAA.
Vice-governor Dionisio Balite who is also the president of the Bohol Schools Athletic Association expressed his gratitude to the PRISAA board for choosing Bohol to host such a prestigious event. This will be the second time for Bohol to host the games, the first time of which was in the late 70s. The vice governor also assured the board that all safety measures for the athletes and guests will be prioritized.
The PRISAA board was composed of the different regional presidents.
Fr. Uy told the Chronicle that Gov. Edgar M. Chatto has assured the complex will be 100% ready for this year’s games. Schools and barangay courts will also be utilized for the games.
“We give other provinces the opportunity to experience hosting a big national competition and also give cultural education to athletes” said Atilano, who was instrumental in the inclusion of the weightlifting competition in the PRISAA last year which produced Rio Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz who represented the Universidad de Zamboanga.
Provinces which hosted the PRISAA before Bohol were Pampanga, Cebu, National Capital region and last year’s host Zambales in which region VII emerged as overall champion.