Mandaue eyes sports tourism boost through international inline skating event

Local

THE Mandaue City government is stepping up efforts to develop the city as a sports tourism destination as it prepares to host its first international inline skating marathon on Oct. 18.

The event will bring together local athletes and foreign participants through a sporting event designed to put Cebu on the global map.

The event is expected to introduce more people to inline skating while opening opportunities for Cebu to attract sports enthusiasts and tourists seeking active travel experiences.

Mandaue Sports Office head Mary Joy Tabal said the city government has been coordinating with various offices to ensure the race course is safe and ready for both skaters and runners.

During a simulation on Oct. 13, Austrian skating advocate Matthias Stelzmüller tested a loop along Zuellig Avenue, where organizers and city personnel assessed the route and identified areas requiring road repairs.

The City Engineering Office and traffic management team have been working on road patches to address potential hazards, while the city will implement traffic restrictions during the event. The venue will also be well-lit to ensure better visibility for participants.

Tabal said the city has conducted a series of coordination meetings, with support from Mayor Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano, to prepare for the arrival of participants and provide them with a smooth race experience.

The inline skating marathon will share the route with the Infinity Run 2026, which will feature 5-kilometer and 10-kilometer categories.

Skaters will use two inner lanes of Zuellig Avenue, while runners will occupy the outermost lane, allowing participants to observe and learn about the sport.

Tabal said the simultaneous activities, organized together with TravelCare, would help expose more runners to inline skating and encourage them to explore the sport.

Stelzmüller, founder of the global Skate the World movement and a 16-time Austrian national champion in short-track speed skating, said the road conditions were better than he expected following the course inspection.

Having traveled on skates across more than 75 countries, he sees the Cebu event as an opportunity to introduce the destination to a wider international audience.

“Now with all the materials that we will produce, with the pictures, the videos, we can showcase to the world that such an amazing race is taking place here in Cebu,” Stelzmüller said.

The event's virtual component will also allow skaters worldwide to participate by completing a 21-kilometer half-marathon in their chosen locations and submitting proof of their performance through fitness applications.

Sunshine Lim of TravelCare hopes the first edition will serve as a springboard for attracting more international participants in future races.

Beyond the sporting event, Stelzmüller said Cebu has strong potential to draw more visitors because of its natural attractions and welcoming communities.

He cited his visits to Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, and Bohol, including the Chocolate Hills, as part of his experience exploring the region.

“What makes Cebu and the Philippines that special in the world are the people. I've never been anywhere where people have been so nice,” he said.(MyTVCebu)