THOUSANDS JOIN RP NATIONAL GAMES
Cebu City, Dec. 14, 1997 - The Philippine National Games (PNG) opened yesterday with a grand parade led by 150 persons with disabilities who were described by President Ramos as "braver than most."
The disabled athletes will take part only in swimming and athletics. A group of 20 overseas Filipino workers from Riyadh and Bahrain will compete only in chess and tenpin bowling.
The President opened the sports fest, the first to be held outside Manila, with a speech that underscored the "Filipinos' unity of purpose and extra competitive spirit."
More than 7,000 athletes and officials are in Cebu City to participate in the PNG, representing a 10% increase from the 1996 registry and a rise of 50% from the number of participants in the first PNG in 1994.
Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 1997
All rights reserved