CEBU CITY – For the first time in the history of Palarong Pambansa, athletes participating in chess will be scanned and all electronic devices will be banned in the tournament area to prevent the possibility of cheating in the sport.
Tournament director Reden Cruz, an international referee, told T yesterdayhe STAR that they would be strict in implementing these new guidelines to rid the tournament of the possibility of cheating with electronic devices.
“Everyone who plays will be scanned and there will be people monitoring the comfort rooms,” Mr. Cruz said. “Electronic devices and even watches and anything mechanical are obviously not allowed in the playing field and their ears will also be inspected.”
Cebu City will be awash with gold medals today as the action intensifies at Palarong Pambansa, including in athletics where 17 mints are up for grabs and swimming where 24 are at stake.
Both medal-rich disciplines will take place at the newly renovated Cebu City Sports Center.
However, the first gold at this annual multi-sport meet for elementary school athletes is expected to come in the high school girls’ 3,000-meter distance.
Asian Age Group Championship gold medalist Jamesray Ajido will be the tanker to watch as he is expected to cast his long, marauding shadow and open his campaign in the secondary boys’ 200m individual medley.
Mr Ajido turned heads when he shocked everyone and took gold at the Asian Youth Meet staged at New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac last February.
Rhythmic gymnastics will also unfold at the University of Southern Philippines Foundation gym, where basic freehand and rope and secondary hoop and ball tokens will be given away.
And the same goes for dance sports, which will make their debut here at the GMall.
Chess will give away some of the gold medals as the blitz takes place in the morning and ends around lunchtime.
By noon, standard chess players will be in the spotlight as they compete for the National Master titles, which will be waged for the second year in a row, and a chess set that will one day become future champions.
And this would be made possible if officials can guarantee clean and fair competition. — Joey Villar