The Department of Education (DepEd) and the City Government of Marikina met with the delegation heads of participating countries to ensure the readiness and safety of playing facilities for the 2014 ASEAN Schools Games (ASG), which will be held from November 29 to December 7, 2014 in Marikina City.
The “Chef de Mission” meeting is intended to finalize billeting arrangements and to allow the countries’ representatives to inspect the playing facilities.
“This meeting allows us to settle all issues months before the conduct of the games,” says DepEd Assistant Secretary Tonisito Umali, adding that it is important for all delegations to be on the same page.
Umali emphasized that ensuring the readiness and safety of the facilities is integral in safeguarding the welfare of the ASG delegates. He said that guaranteeing such environment for the athletes would provide a venue for creating champions. He added, “We want to create a community of champions—not just in the Asian Games or the Olympics, but champions in discipline, teamwork, and leadership.”
“We are excited to see how our young athletes are growing to be our ASEAN champions,” Jolly Gomez of the Philippine Sports Commission said.
This is the 6th ASEAN Schools Games and the first time for the Philippines to host although last year the country already hosted the golf tournament of the 2013 games, which were held in Vietnam.
Participating countries are Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and the Philippines. The events in the ASG are athletics, swimming, badminton, golf, tennis, sepak takraw, gymnastics, table tennis, basketball, volleyball and wushu. The Philippine delegation will be composed of student-athletes from both public and private schools, as selected by a separate selection committee.
