Athletics, one of the two centerpiece events of the Palarong Pambansa, may start earlier but will have to be held in two separate venues when the games are hosted this year by Marikina City.
Technical officials have recommended that the first events of athletics, which are the field events, be held on July 31 at a different venue, right on the day of the opening ceremonies of the Department of Education-organized meet.
Organizers felt that the track and field stadium inside the Marikina Sports Complex would not be able to accommodate all the events in athletics and the para games, when the Palaro is held from Aug 1 to Aug. 5.
The venue, according to their studies, might be too small to handle the field events, which includes pole vault, high jump and long jump.
Officials are reviewing a proposal to have an advanced schedule and that the Philsports oval in Pasig City be included in the list of venues that will handle events of the Palaro.
And athletics officials believe that having the two field events at the Marikina could interfere with the conduct of running activities because of their proximity to each other in the oval.
“May request kami sa secretariat na magkaroon kami ng advanced schedule sa July 31. Kasi nga, iyun runway ng pole vault, malapit sa takbuhan,” said Narciso Dasigan, tournament manager of the Palarong Pambansa athletics meet.
Palaro technical officials also cited the difficulty in transporting equipment from the Pasig facilities to Marikina.
A solidarity meeting among coaches and officials from the participating regions will be held on July 29, while indigenous events will take place on the following.