A hotel in Makati City is now hosting the training of members of the national gymnastics team for the coming 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam.
The gymnasts have begun their physical workouts at the Green Sun Hotel following the inauguration of its gymnasium last Thursday.
“It’s our new home for our athletes. We’re training our athletes for the SEA Games,” said Gymnastics Association of the Philippines president Cynthia Carrion.
Carrion explained that hotel owner David Lim gave them access to their gym facilities, a 1,000-square meter space located at the third floor of the Green Sun Hotel, along Chino Roces Avenue Extension and will serve as the new venue for the activities of the GAP.
The assistance of Mayor Abby Binay, who is also a member of the board, was also welcomed, since the City of Makati was able to provide assistance in the needed health and safety protocols that they are putting up for the training.
The Philippines placed third in gymnastics in the last SEA Games, with Olympian Carlos Yulo leading the country’s 3-5-4 gold-silver-bronze medal haul.
Initially, 14 national team members will be using the facilities.
This includes Daniela Dela Pisa, who clinched the Philippines’ first gold medal in rhythmic gymnastics in the biennial meet.
The GAP needed to look for a new venue after facilities used to train gymnasts at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex have not been available since March last year.
Since the lockdowns were put up to control the spread of the coronavirus, some of the venues inside the Vito Cruz venue are still being utilized as isolation facilities for those who have been afflicted by the virus.
Binay has been helping the GAP after she was accepted into board of directors as head of the education and training committee,
Carrion said the new set of officers are now involved in their plans for a new facility, which is among the priorities they have in the development of its grassroots programs and in its bid to win the country’s first gold medal in the Olympics.