EL NUEVO DIARIO, SANTO DOMINGO.- The Ministry of Sports and Recreation began the III Municipal Games of Baní in an enthusiastic ceremony in which the almost 800 athletes who compete in 18 disciplines and recreational activities participated.
The activity, held this Thursday afternoon at the Cucurucho de Peravia softball stadium, was led by officials from the sports area, as well as by legislative and municipal authorities.
Among the areas that participate in the games is the Northeast composed of the neighborhoods Los Barrancones, Juan Roberto Smith, El Fundo, Villa Güera, La Montería, El Maní, La Saona, Las 20 Casitas and Guazuma.
Likewise, Villa Majega, Pueblo Nuevo, Santa Cruz, Río Arriba, El Limonal, El Carretón, Las Barías, Catalina Arriba and Paya Arriba, make up the Northwest area.
While the Southeast area includes the Plazoleta de los Deportes, Ana Reyes de Pérez, Cañafistol, Villa Sombrero, El Llano, Boca Canasta, Villa Fundación, Salinas, Las Calderas and 30 de Mayo.
The Southwest area is made up of the Los Morenos, Paya Abajo, Catalina, Barrio Las Flores, Santa Rosa and Mata Gorda sectors.
They will compete in track and field, badminton, basketball, baseball, 3 × 3 basketball, softball, soccer, volleyball and boxing, as well as chess and dominoes. Exhibition sports will include karate, table tennis, archery, triathlon, handball, taekwondo and weightlifting.
Authorities
The Vice Minister of Sports for the Southern Region, Kennedy Vargas, who represented the Minister, Francisco Camacho, stressed that the institution has the responsibility of bringing sports to the different communities of the country to benefit future talents.
He stated that the Municipal Games of Baní are the prelude to the great event that is scheduled for next year, the National Games, to be held in the Peravia, Azua and San José de Ocoa provinces.
The official also encouraged young people to participate in the Christmas Sports Festival that begins throughout the country on November 26 and will run until December 19, and will distribute cash prizes for more than 52 million pesos.
“All these sports activities for the benefit of the Dominicans have been instructed by the President of the Republic, Luis Abinader, and the Minister of Sports, Francisco Camacho, who are interested in advancing the sport,” said Vargas.
While the vice minister for the Eastern Region of Miderec and president of the Peravia Sports Union, Leopoldo Portes Soler, when welcoming, urged the participants to compete with gallantry and to respect the rules of the disciplines to be played.
Meanwhile, the mayor of the municipality of Baní and president of the organizing committee, Santos Ramírez, referred to the synergy that existed between the organizers to mount the games.
He predicted that the athletes who will represent the Peravia province in the upcoming National Games will emerge from the Municipal Games.
“We hope this ends in the same way it began, in order and in peace, that it is understood that each sporting event constitutes a stage to make friends,” said the municipal executive.
Deputy Julio Fulcar, when congratulating the organizers, affirmed that the Municipal Games have created the union of more than 700 young people in every municipality of Baní, opening a valuable opportunity and sending a message to the country that sports are played in the Peravia province to guide the youth for a better future.
Also present at the opening were the provincial director of Sports, Victor Gil; Heyda Joaquín, head of the provincial directors; Senator Milciades Franjul, Deputies Mercedes Rodríguez and Luis Báez, as well as the Deputy Mayor of Baní, Adriana Soto.
The games, which coincide with the festivities of Baní, have been dedicated to the Virgin of Our Lady of Regla, patron saint of the Peravians.
At the end of the act, the municipal folkloric ballet put those present to dance with the interpretation of several meringues.
