BY CLIFFORD JAMES L. DANDUAN/UM Intern
THE LOCAL government will implement open tryouts for athletes who aspire to wear Davao City’s colors in the forthcoming Batang Pinoy and BIMP EAGA Friendship Games this year.
During the iSpeak Media Conference on Thursday, April 16, at the City Health Office, Mikey Aportadera, the head of the City Sports Development Office, said this new policy was adopted in response to challenges the office faced in selecting the best athletes.
The tryouts hope to create an objective selection process amid growing pressure from coaches and parents.
”To dispel all those intrigues, since every parent and coach wants their child or athlete to be included, and would naturally claim they are the best, we had to find a way to manage it, so the office opted to hold tryouts,” Aportadera said.
The office has already encouraged all organizers, especially the various National Sports Associations (NSAs) in the city, to conduct their respective tryouts.
Aportadera said tryout standouts will automatically earn a spot for the Davao City delegation, receiving support from the local government.
Fostering inclusivity, he said that athletes who fail to secure a spot can still represent the city at their own expense.
“Those who also intend to join are welcome, there’s no problem; we will endorse them, and they may travel with us at their own expense while still representing the city,” he shared.
Aspiring athletes are encouraged to complete registration by April 20 to qualify for tryouts, the primary step toward earning a spot on the city’s official delegation for this year’s sporting events.
