House passes children’s sports protection bill

Rep. Emilio Carlo Acosta (camara.pr.gov)

By THE STAR STAFF

District 20 (Cabo Rojo, San Germán and Hormigueros) Rep. Emilio Carlo Acosta on Tuesday lauded the island House of Representatives’ approval of House Bill (HB) 568, of his authorship, which seeks to enact the “Single Sports Calendar and the Regulation of Sporting Events of Puerto Rico Law.”

“Our spearhead, with this measure, is to protect the health, safety and integral development of our girls and boys,” the lawmaker said. “Our bill, of such importance for all of Puerto Rico, seeks to defend the physical, emotional and formative integrity of our girls and boys who practice various sports on the island.”

HB 568, Carlo Acosta noted, responds to the growing physical overexploitation and excessive commercialization of children’s sports in Puerto Rico.

“The above, sadly, has displaced such essential values as enjoyment, respect and teamwork,” he emphasized.

The New Progressive Party legislator said the measure “will represent a great management tool for the Department of Recreation and Sports, which will focus all official events where minors participate.

“The instrument will allow for coordinating and supervising each sports activity,” he said.

Meanwhile, each sports organization will be obliged to register its events in advance, and present security plans, among other requirements.