PSC: Children’s Games should be blueprint for nationwide program

Children’s Games in Baguio City.

BAGUIO CITY—The Children’s Games of the Philippine Sports Commission here in the country’s Summer capital should serve as a template for other communities to replicate.

Professor Henry Daut, PSC head for grassroots sports development, said making the Games designed for 12-year-old kids and younger a regular activity in the city’s 128 barangays would not only promote fun and fitness but also expand the talent base of future elite athletes.

“Having it here can encourage other communities to do the same,’’ said Daut on the second day of the Children’s Games Thursday at the Baguio Athletics Bowl.

“But these communities should not be totally dependent on what the PSC has been giving. They should also be self-reliant in terms of looking for support,’’ added Daut, who is also deputy national training director of the Philippine Sports Institute.

Over 400 kids from the area began to play in various team sports such as volleyball, football, basketball and running in the three-day competition that will end Friday.

It was the fourth offering of the Unesco-cited Children’s Games after holding it in Davao City, La Trinidad, Benguet and Iligan City for the children of evacuees from war-torn Marawi City.

PSC chair Butch Ramirez said the Games would return to Davao in Turil town this weekend, which will gather children from different religious and tribal backgrounds to play together and socially interact.

“The more kids that can play, the more talents we can discover. These Games, however, are not just about producing excellent athletes. It’s also about increasing the participation and the awareness to motivate more kids to get into the playing field,’’ said Daut.