Muling magsisilbing host ang Parañaque City, makaraan ang mahigit sa 20-taong nakalipas, sa gaganaping 2015 National Capital Region (NCR) Palaro sa Pebrero.

Pinangunahan ni Parañaque Mayor Edwin L. Olivarez, kahit malakas ang ulan noong Huwebes ng gabi (Setyembre 18), ang pormal na paglulunsad sa pangrehiyong torneo na katatampukan ng pinakamahuhusay na atletang estudyante, kasama na ang ilang beses tinanghal na kampeon na NCR.

“It has beem more than 20 years since the regional games were last held in our city,” sinabi ni Olivarez sa ginanap na presscon sa Sinulog Room ng Blue Leaf Filipinas sa Macapagal Aveneu sa ASEANA Business Park sa Parañaque.

Inilunsad din ni Olivarez ang opisyal na logo, mascot at jingle ng 2015 NCR Palarong Pangrehiyon.

“The last NCR Palaro in Parañaque was held way back in 1994 when my father, Dr. Pablo Olivarez, was mayor of the then municipality of Parañaque,” giit ni Olivarez. “Parañaque has since gone a long way, but our love and support for sport remains steadfast.”

“Indeed, it is my personal honor to play host to the NCR Palaro in 2015, and the city government will leave no stone unturned to make sure that this annual sporting competition for our youth from all over Metro Manila is a big success,” ayon pa kay Olivares.

Maliban sa sports na athletics, sinabi ni Olivarez na paglalabanan sa palaro ang kabuuang 17 sports sa iba’t ibang pasilidad sa Parañaque, partikular na sa Olivarez Sports Complex.

“We don’t have a track oval yet but very soon, we will have one,” sinabi pa nito.

“We will also hold the opening ceremony here in the ASEANA City for us to accommodate all our neighboring cities and municipalities,“ ayon pa kay Olivarez, kilalang sportsman at dating national tennis player, NCAA Junior at Senior Tennis champion at kasalukuyang presidente ng Philippine Tennis Association (PHILTA).

Dumalo sa aktibidad ang ilang mayor sa Metro Manila at maging ang matataas na opisyal ng Department of Education-National Capital Region.

Optimistiko din si Olivarez, naluklok sa puwesto noong 2013, na makatutulong ang NCR Palaro sa pag-unlad ng siyudad at maging sa pinagtutuunang social services at public infrastructure upang maging destinasyon ng kalakalan at trabaho, kasama na ang entertainment, leisure, sports at tourism.

Kamakailan ay iginawad sa Parañaque ang “country’s most economically dynamic city” sa Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index 2014, na proyekto ng National Competitiveness Council, Department of Trade and Industry at USAID.