7 PH athletes on march as YOG unfolds

NANJING—Ninety minutes of songs and dances in a program that focuses on youth and vitality will kick off the second Youth Olympic Games on Friday evening at the 62,000-seat Nanjing Olympic Sports Center here.

Seven Filipino athletes, all under 18 years old and competing in six different sports, will take part in the parade of athletes from 202 nations. The ceremony begins at 8 p.m.

To archer Luis Gabriel Moreno belongs the honor of carrying the Philippine flag during the opening ceremony expected to be witnessed by a crowd of about 50,000.

The other Filipino representatives in this year’s YOG are archer Bianca Roxas-Chua Gotuaco, track and field athlete Zion Rose Nelson, swimmer Roxanne Yu, gymnast Ava Loren Verdeflor, triathlete Victorija Evania Deldio and shooter Celdon Jude Arellano.

The YOG showcases about 3,600 of the world’s finest youth athletes. The Games offer 222 gold medals in 28 sports.

The host nation has the most number of athletes at 123 followed by Brazil with 97. Liechtenstein and Monaco are fielding only one athlete each in swimming and judo, respectively.

International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach and Nanjing YOG organizing committee president Li Xueyong will deliver opening speeches during the rites.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco, Philippine Sports Commission chair Richie Garcia and IOC representative to the Philippines Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski lead the very small group of officials representing the country here.

Jonne Go, the chef de mission of the Philippine contingent, said the level of competition in the YOG is definitely world class.

“These young athletes are the future of sports in their respective countries,” she said.