IN a huge boost for the sport locally, Brick, a leading global parkour gear from France, has donated 62,000 euros (P3.8 million) worth of equipment to the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines during the sixth and final leg of the FIG Brick Parkour Asian tour yesterday at the Rizal Park.
Receiving the equipment was GAP president Cynthia Carrion, who turned over the equipment to Philippine Obstacle Sports Federation chief Atty. Al Agra for safekeeping, in the presence of FIG president Morinari Watanabe of Japan and Asian Gymnastics Union president Abdulrahman Al-Shatri of Qatar.
“This donation of equipment is for the development of parkour in Southeast Asia. We want to also develop a parkour community in your region so that the sport will thrive,” said Brick French representative Augustin Goubert de Cauville.
De Cauville added the equipment consisted of about 35 to 40 obstacles laid out on a 25-meter course and is normally used for training as well as national competitions.
“Like Augustin, we want the Asians to excel and enjoy,” noted Polish FIG parkour sport manager Jakub Koslacz. “We have seen how parkour was well-received in our previous legs of the FIG Brick Asian Parkour Tour.
“As part of our promotions, we are also conducting a workshop during the two-day event among those who are interested in being engaged in the sport.”
Carrion, delighted and grateful with the development, said: “We would like to thank Brick for donating this parkour equipment that will surely inspire our present parkour athletes now that they can train properly on a FIG-standard course and equipment.”
Agra, who was entrusted by the GAP in organizing the two-day event backed by the Philippine Amusement Gaming Corp., Philippine Sports Commission, Cannice Sports Equipment, Milo and Pocari Sweat, said he will make sure the gear will be kept safely and put to proper use.
“Our thanks to GAP president Cynthia for giving us the role of preserving and keeping this equipment that we intend to use in promoting and development of the sport nationwide,” Agra said.
