The stage is all set for the biggest sporting event, the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association.
With the recent completion of the almost half billion Benguet Aquatic Center, the newly built tartan tracks of the athletic oval, and the FIBA standard basketball gymnasium all located at the Benguet Sports Complex in La Trinidad, Benguet is more than ready to host this year’s athletic association with a theme “Fostering a United and Healthier Cordillera Through Sports.”
Benguet Cong. Eric Go Yap, who worked out for the funding of the aquatic center, the rubberized track and the renovation of the gym at the Benguet Sports Complex said he has been in close coordination with Gov. Melchor Diclas and Department of Education – Cordillera regional director Estela Carino.
“We are very prepared. Hindi ako papayag mapahiya tayong mga Benguet,” said the solon.
Since assuming office as caretaker in 2020 and becoming fulltime Benguet representative in 2022, Yap has been closely working coordinating with the national government for the funding, where nearly P300 million was poured for the redevelopment of the sports complex that was built sometime in 2010.
Education Sec. Sonny Angara will grace this year’s CARAA meet that will kick off February 23 until the 28th.
With the province assuring its readiness to host the weeklong sports event, some 1,365 medals will be at stake with 424 golds and another 424 silvers while 517 bronze medals will be awarded to the top three best athletes in all the 32-sports discipline lined – up.
All eyes will be on the swimming competition with more than 90 golds as the province is set to showcase the newly built Olympic standard Aquatic Center while athletics will at least give away close to 60 gold medals.
Other multi – medal events that will be hotly contested during the event includes archery and combative sports such as arnis, boxing, and taekwondo.
Defending champion Baguio City is already flexing its muscle to defend the title by fielding 569 athletes and will be joined by 76 coaches, 86 chaperons and 96 officials for a total of 827, the biggest among the eight competing local government units of the Cordillera region.
The host province meanwhile will send 581 athletes, 110 coaches, six chaperons and 118 officials totaling to 815 in their bid to improve its third-place finish from last year’s CARAA.
2023 and 2024 1st runner – up Apayao will field 516 athletes with 220 coaches and officials joining the weeklong regional sports meet.
Some 708 athletes and officials will be sent by the Province of Abra while Ifugao has 704 including 486 athletes.
Mountain Province is sending 633 athletes and officials while Kalinga will have 581 delegates with Tabuk City have the least participants with 550. Roderick Osis
