DUMAGUETE CITY: Key personalities in the sports industry in Negros Oriental are mounting an aggressive strategy to promote sports tourism in the province and ramp up opportunities for athletes and health buffs. During a press launch on Monday, organizers of the PlanOut Sports and Fitness Festival said sports tourism has taken a backseat in the past years, owing to political divide, among other reasons. 'Usually, it is the provincial or local governments that take the lead in coming up with a sports program with a corresponding budget, but now we have created a private group that will bring different sporting events and other activities to Negros Oriental,' Paultom Paras, president of Negros Oriental Sports (NorSports) and sports management director of Planout Sportsfest, said. He said sports programs tend to be less prioritized during a change in political leadership, thus depriving local athletes of opportunities to hone their skills. Paras said the private sector-led sports festival to be held here ever y weekend on Sept. 1 to 29 expects thousands of athletes from across the country. The events are arnis, badminton, basketball, chess, cycling, darts, functional training, kettlebell, physical fitness, karatedo, mountain bike racing, pickleball, roundnet, running, softball, table tennis, ultimate frisbee, urban camping, volleyball, wall climbing and Zumba. The festival will also feature conferences with invited experts in sports and fitness from Australia, the United States and the Philippines. Exhibitions will provide means for businesses specializing in sports and fitness to showcase their products and services and expand markets. Source: Philippines News Agency