The Gymnasiade Local Organizing Committee officially announced the dates of the Opening Ceremony on Oct. 18, 2020 and the Closing Ceremony on Oct. 23, 2020 at the Jinjiang Gymnasiade Sports Center.
The communication was directed to Philippine Inter-School Sport Association President Alvin Tai Lian, who is currently preparing for the participation of the Philippine team in the various sports disciplines that PISSA will participate in and the filing of the individual registration by student-athletes and the team leaders for accreditation.
Earlier, Tai Lian designated Angel Ngu, the president of the Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines, to be the country’s Flag Bearer during the opening ceremony of the 18th Gymnasiade 2020 in Jinjiang City.
A major patron of the Philippine team to the 18th Gymnasiade is Yatai International Corporation, with its supporting brand name – Omni Electrical and Lighting. Yatai is led by its Chief Executive Officer Yang Hua Hong. Another corporate sponsor is Bestank Manufacturing Corporation. Officials of the two companies are keenly awaiting their confirmation and registration to the biennial meet.
The Jinjiang Local Organizing Committee stated that the Quanzhou Jinjiang International Airport and Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport are the ports of entry to Jinjiang City.
Other ports of entry open to welcome the delegation officials through the railway system are Xiamenbei Railway Station, Quanzhou Railways Station, and Jinjiang Railway Station.
The Gymnasiade 2020 will have 18 disciplines, namely Athletics, Archery, Badminton, Basketball, Chess, Diving, Fencing, Football, Aerobic Gymnastics, Artistic Gymnastics, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Judo, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Wrestliing, Wushu, and Jump Rope.
Of the 18 disciplines, the PISSA Organizing Committee intends to participate in 14.
PISSA is officially recognized by the International School Sport Federation, the global body that sanctions the 18th Gymnasiade 2020.
The PISSA is also keenly awaiting the names of the team Leaders that are confirming their participation and support of a particular sports event. This will allow the organization to put up the qualifying tournaments in the country’s various regions this early and account for the necessary operational expenses to be incurred.
PISSA Secretary General Joseph Sy is calling for a PISSA Executive Board meeting next week to discuss the division of work of the different working committees that will preside over the qualifying tournaments.
Different leagues and associations affiliated with the PISSA will be assigned to run the local qualifying tournaments to the 18th Gymnasiade 2020, also known as the 18th Schools Summer Games 2020.
Members of the PISSA Executive Board are Felix Tiukinhoy (Vice president), Robert Milton Calo (Vice President), Ann Janeth Garcia (Deputy Secretary General), Cecil Sarmiento (Treasurer), Gladys Sia (Assistant Treasurer), Sean Elijah Siy (Wushu), Edgar Galeno (Swimming), Antonio Quiza, Fructuso Raytos, Raquel Padilla Lim (Special Projects), JC Clarito (Badminton), and Kert Bryan Ocampo.