South Luzon head Calo hints at rescheduling Milo Little Olympic season start

Student-athletes began marching to the Marikina Sports Center field as the Milo Little Olympics kicked off at the said venue on Friday. Ivan Saldajeno

By Ivan Saldajeno

MARIKINA--Don't be surprised if the Milo Little Olympics next year will start at a later date.

Robert Calo, the regional director for Southern Luzon, bared on Friday that there are plans of batting for the said youth multi-sport event to kick off later than its usual late August or September start.

In a chat with reporters during the press launch of the 2018 season at the Marikina Sports Center here, Calo said that the academic calendar is the primary reason behind the said move.

"[Yung] school year, nagbago. Kaya mag-a-adjust din [tayo]," he said.

Some schools, particularly major universities, already moved their school opening to August, and this heavily affects the eligibility of the participating athletes, especially in the Southern Luzon region, where the Milo Little Olympic season usually starts.

Calo also cited weather as a factor to be considered in moving the start of the Little Olympics.

"We can avoid yung typhoon, yung rainy season, and at least yung mga minimal na mga rainfall," he further said.

The city has been known to be a flood-prone area, although the weather was fine during the opening ceremonies.

Another factor that the organizers are looking into, according to Calo, is the fact that PFL club JPV Marikina calls the Marikina Sports Center its home.

"Ina-assure natin na wag mag-conflict yung mga schedules," he added. "Kaya pati yung management ng Marikina, inaalam nila kung ano yung mga schedule nila para maiwasan nga yun."

Marikina's supposed home game against Ilocos on Sept. 22, 2017 was moved to the Binan Football Stadium in Binan due to the Milo Little Olympics hosting.

Marikina finally played at its "Camp Big Falcon" during opening night of the soon-to-be-finished 2018 season on March 3, but the club never played here since then, primarily due to the venue's unavailability.

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