THE race for the right to represent Region III in the 2012 Palarong Pambansa begins today with the staging of the Central Luzon Regional Athletic Association (CLRAA) at the sprawling Zambales Sports Complex in the capital of Iba.

Athletes from 18 school divisions are vying in 18 sports disciplines to be contested in the elementary and secondary divisions with the winners advancing to the Palaro this summer in Pangasinan.

The CLRAA actually opened formally with the opening ceremonies yesterday with                 Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla (Cavite, Second District) representing her husband, Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., who was the event’s main guest. She extolled on the schooled athletes to do their best but at the same time display fair play and promote camaraderie.

Zambales Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane welcomed the participants as he expressed excitement over the province’s hosting of the CLRAA for the first time in 18 years.

Newly elected Zambalkes Rep. Jun Omar Ebdane (Second District) and Rep. Milagros Magsaysay (First District) also joined in welcoming the thousands of athletes and officials from the provinces of Zambales, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga and Tarlac.

Local lawn tennis player Jules Roianne Rojas led the Athletes Oath of Amateurism, while newly-installed Department of Education Region III Director Dr. Isabelita mBorres formally declared the Games open.

The newly refurbished P100-million complex which features a rubberized track oval and an Olympic-size pool, will be the main hub of the CLRAA. It will host athletics swimming, basketball, football, lawn tennis, sepak takraw, sipa takraw, volleyball and football.