Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 11) – Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) chief Philip Ella Juico eyes a two-month training ‘bubble’ for national athletics team members vying for an Olympic slot.
Juico said during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday they plan to hold the ‘bubble’ at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac beginning January 2021.
“We do not want to lose the momentum we regained after the SEA Games as you know we’re still at it, we’re working hard, we’re trying to get as many people qualified to the Olympics,” explained Juico.
A ‘bubble’ concept is when players will be holed up in a closed place for months. This will serve as their residence as well as their game and practice venues. The setup was adopted by the National Basketball Association, Philippine Basketball Association, and Philippines Football League to contain the risk of coronavirus transmission among team members.
Juico remains positive the Philippines can send the country’s brightest athletics stars in the 2021 Olympics, mentioning the likes of Southeast Asia’s heptathlon queen Sarah Dequinan, the region’s best javelin-thrower Melvin Calano, and triathlon queen Christine Hallasgo.
The PATAFA chief added they are also looking to hold two national meets in 2021. The 1st National Open will happen on March 19-21 at the New Clark City, which will serve as an Olympic qualifier for Filipino athletics bets who intend to join the world’s biggest sporting competition.
Juico said the 2nd National Open will be held around September 2021, in preparation for the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam in December.
“The national open will be held in the same venue as the SEA Games which has been accredited already by the AAA and World Athletics,” said Juico of the New Clark City Athletics Stadium which hosted the 30th SEA Games athletics events in 2019.
The Philippine athletics team won 11 golds, eight silvers, and eight bronzes during the 2019 SEA Games, where the country bagged its second overall SEAG title.
