BARMM's 1st Palaro kicks off in Upi, Maguindanao

Cotabato City  -  The first week-long Palarong Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Athletic Association (BARMMAA) games officially kicked off on Thursday, January 16, in Nuro Upi, Maguindanao.

More than 6,000 student-athletes and officials from the region’s nine school divisions attended the opening program at the Nuro Central Elementary School.

Bangsamoro Government Executive Secretary Abdulraof Macacua officially declared the region-wide athletic meet open.

This year’s Palaro holds the theme ‘Sports Exellence – Pathway to United, Peaceful and Prosperous Bangsamoro'.

Minister Mohager Iqbal of the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) said in a message that his ministry "is keen to provide every student in the Bangsamoro quality education for their overall development, including their nutrition, health, and physical growth."

"The BARMM, through the Education Ministry, shall endeavor to strengthen the physical education and sports development in all institutions in this region," Iqbal said.

Iqbal also encouraged the Bangsamoro youth to be more involved in sports, citing that it is "an excellent means to channel their youthful energy into positive and worthwhile pursuits that would ultimately enable them to become well-rounded adults and professionals in the future."

The region-wide games will run until Tuesday, January 21, with athletes both from elementary and secondary schools competing in the following sports: archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, basketball, billiards, boxing, chess, football, futsal, pencaks silat, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, wrestling, and wushu.

The delegates are composed of 740 athletes from Maguindanao l, Maguindanao ll with 581 athletes, Lanao Sur l with 570, Lanao Sur ll with 650, Marawi City with 450, Lamitan City with 347, Basilan with 429, Sulu with 450, Tawi-Tawi with 532 athletes; and 536 number of officiating officials/staff.

The emerging champions in the Palarong BARMMAA will represent the Bangsamoro region in the upcoming 2020 Palarong Pambansa. (Bureau of Public Information)