Training for combat sports athletes will be possible in two of three sports facilities that are under the control of the Philippine Sports Commission by January.
The government sports body, however, is still taking a cautious stand in many places inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex and the Philsports Complex when they open it by Jan. 10 even though health protocols have eased with the continued decline in COVID-19 infections.
That’s because the government is still utilizing certain areas in the two venues as isolation facilities.
So far, only athletes from eight sports disciplines can train for the coming Southeast Asian Games and they are still evaluating requests to accommodate more.
Training will be allowed once the PSC finishes clearing numerous areas inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in and the Philsports Complex.
Among the combat sports events that can have physical training sessions are karatedo, judo, sambo, taekwondo, boxing, kickboxing and muay.
“Pinapayagan nang gamitin ang oval, pool at ang iba’t iba pang buildings for training,” said PSC commissioner Ramon Fernandez after the government sports agency got the green light from the Interagency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Diseases.
As for the national training camp in Baguio, only two groups of national athletes can be accommodated.
Fernandez said that the go signal given by the IATF will allow national athletes to get back into physical training following a 20-month break.