UNIGAMES IN ILOILO CITY. Organizers of the 24th Philippine University Games (UNIGAMES) in a press conference held at the University of San Agustin (USA) on Thursday (Oct. 3, 2019) believe that the national event will boost Iloilo City’s sports tourism. The tournament, set from Oct. 19 to 27 and hosted by USA, expects the participation of 40 colleges and universities in the country. (PNA photo by Perla G. Lena)
ILOILO CITY -- The staging of the 24th Philippine University Games (UNIGAMES) here, which will gather more than 2,500 delegates from colleges and universities in the Philippines, is expected to boost this city’s sports tourism.
Roger A. Banzuela, president and chairman of UNIGAMES on Thursday said they are expecting 40 colleges and universities to join the tournament set from Oct. 19 to 27 and hosted by the University of San Agustin (USA), Iloilo City.
Last year, around 30 colleges and universities joined the 23rd edition that was held in Dumaguete City.
“We would like to congratulate the host; you are helping the Iloilo community in terms of sports tourism and the business sector of Iloilo,” Banzuela said during a press conference held in the USA here.
Banzuela said if each of the delegates will just spend PHP300 a day for their meals, excluding snacks, transportation, and souvenirs, then it means some PHP750,000 worth of money that will be circulating in the city for food alone. In 10 days that is equivalent to some PHP7.5 million.
He explained that this year’s number of participating schools is higher because of the involvement of the 2019 Collegiate Grand Slam in conjunction with the women’s volleyball championships of the UNIGAMES.
The women’s volleyball indoor competition will be called the 2019 UNIGAMES-Collegiate Grand Slam 2nd Dominic Sytin Cup.
Fray Stephen Ong Tan, OSA, over-all chair of the USA’s steering committee said that they are giving security, in terms of preparations, an utmost priority.
He shared that proper coordination has been made with the Philippine National Police, accredited hospitals, emergency responders and other concerned sectors.
“We are in the stage of already implementing our security measures. We’ve already done our orientation,” Tan added, stating that USA also hosted the UNIGAMES in 2014.
He added the city government’s Meetings, Incentives, Travel, Conference, Convention, Exhibitions, Events (MICE) Center has been lending them a hand in the preparations.
Quoting MICE center executive director Salvador D. Sarabia Jr., Tan said they will be showcasing to the delegates the “historical and cultural values of Ilonggos”.
“Why are we welcoming UNIGAMES? Because it is one of the eight institutional advocacies of the university-sports advocacy,” he added.
The athletes will be billeted at the main campus of the university, where the majority of the classrooms are air-conditioned and the Sambag campus in Jaro district. If they could not be accommodated on the two campuses, the university also partners with the Iloilo Doctors College.
However, looking at the list where most of the athletes will come from Manila, then it is expected that they will be staying in hotels. “We are almost 85 to 90 percent ready in terms of billeting venues,” he said.
The opening program for the UNIGAMES will be held in the afternoon of Oct. 20 after the 2 p.m. Eucharistic celebration at the USA gymnasium.
Among the events are athletics, basketball, football, volleyball and beach volleyball to be held in various playing venues in Iloilo City.
This year’s edition of the UNIGAMES has a theme “The Games that Bring Us Together for Unity and Peace”. (PNA)
