After three months of waiting, the Ayala Philippine Athletics Championships can finally stage a training camp under a bubble setup.
Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association president Philip Ella Juico said this after the Interagency Task Force for Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases finally gave their approval, allowing athletes to train.
The IATF on Tuesday gave clearance for the restart of training for national athletes preparing for the Tokyo Olympics and those seeking qualification as well.
“We welcome this move. We can now concentrate on our preparations,” said Juico.
The IATF’s nod came some three months after the PATAFA and many national sports associations, in coordination with the Philippine Sports Commission, initially sought approval for the resumption of physical training.
PATAFA’s annual athletics meet is planned to be staged from March 19 to 21, 2021 at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium in Capas, Tarlac.
This was made possible following talks between Juico and Bases Conversion Development Authority President and CEO Vince Dizon.
The meet will serve as a qualifier for local athletes seeking an Olympic berth
The PATAFA also plans to have a two-month training camp for the national athletics team in January.
Since the lockdowns took place, members of the national team have left their billeting areas at the Philsports complex andgone back to their respective hometowns in the provinces.
The Philsports complex, along with the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, have since been used as quarantine facilities for COVID-19 patients. Peter Atencio