LAOAG CITY (April 22, 2024) – More than 7,000 learner-athletes will comprise this year’s contenders in the Region 1 Athletic Association (R1AA) Meet which will commence today at the Ferdinand Edralin Marcos Memorial Stadium.
Regional Sports Coordinator Ryan E. Bantiding, Education Program Supervisor, Quality Assurance Division, DepEd Regional Office I, said 26 sports events will be played in the secondary level, while 19 sports events will be seen in the elementary level.
Sports events in both two categories include Athletics, Badminton, Baseball, Basketball (5×5), Basketball (3×3), Chess, Dance sport, Football, Aerobic Gymnastics, Men’s Artistic Gymnastics, Women’s Artistic Gymnastics, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Sepak Takraw, Softball, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, and Volleyball, while Archery, Billiard, Boxing, Futsal, Pencak Silat, Wrestling, and Wushu will only be competed in the secondary level.
The opening program slated at 5:00 p.m. today will be highlighted by a unity dance, with the participants composed of learner-athletes from the 14 school division offices (SDOs) wearing white gloves to emphasize the celebration of Earth Day which coincides with the R1AA.
Prior to this, a parade of athletes featuring their athletic uniform emphasizing their respective SDOs will be done; the result of which will be the basis of one of the special awards to be given by the hosts, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte, and SDO Ilocos Norte, the “Most disciplined delegation.”
Other special awards include, “Clean and Green billeting school,” and “Most functional learners’ rights desk.”
To ensure the successful implementation of the 2024 R1AA, a technical conference was initiated lately by SDO Ilocos Norte involving the tournament managers, technical officials, chaperons, and other key officials of DepEd Region I.
The participants reported the result of their visitation in the playing venues to address possible issues and concerns that may arise during the competition.
The Schools Division Superintendents, chiefs of the School Governance and Operations Division, and Division Sports Coordinators, likewise visited the different billeting schools to ensure the safety and security of the learner-athletes.
The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte led by Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc, on the other hand, ensured the safety and security of all delegates and guests in the playing venues and billeting schools, through the provision of assistance coming from the law enforcers.
The assurance was made during the signing of the official logo of the R1AA conducted recently by Governor Manotoc and DepEd Regional Director Tolentino G. Aquino at the Provincial Capitol that guarantees smooth flow of the sporting event in the Province of Ilocos Norte.
By: Cesar S. Bucsit, Public Affairs Unit