• RICHARD T. CABALLERO JR.
The Provincial Government of Negros Occidental is set to host the 26th Philippines University Games (UNIGAMES), which is scheduled from October 24 to 30, where more than 2,000 athletes and coaches are expected.
UNIGAMES President Roger Banzuela disclosed yesterday during a press conference that 35 universities and colleges across the country have already submitted their rosters, with 1,770 athletes and 279 coaches expected to arrive in the province days before the tournament begins.
Almost all of the colleges and universities in Bacolod City will participate in the annual sporting event.
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said that the province, with the help of other local government units, including Bacolod City, will provide the venues and the billeting of the participating athletes.
“We contributed P500,000 for this event. This is one of the major sporting activities every year, and this is where we can see talents, especially in the province,” the governor said, adding that the event can also boost tourism.
For this year’s UNIGAMES, athletes in both men’s and women’s categories will compete in 9 sports, including basketball, volleyball, beach volleyball, futsal, football, athletics, badminton, taekwondo, and table tennis.
The events will be held at Panaad Park Stadium and Silay City Gymnasium, while the Teresita Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City will serve as the official health care partner of the event, Lacson said.
UNIGAMES is an annual sporting event that started in 1996 in Bacolod City, with the University of Saint La Salle as the first host university. The event now enters its 26th year after being suspended for 4 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Seasoned journalist, educator, and a former editor of The Visayan DAILY STAR, Allen Del Carmen, will serve as this year’s UNIGAMES media relations head.*
