IN a huge boost to its grassroots development program, the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines will receive $133,935 (roughly P7 million) in aid from the Japanese government’s Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Project for a new gym in Calamba, Laguna that will cater to aspiring young gymnasts.
Gymnastics Association of the Philippines President Cynthia Carrion signed the agreement for the donation with Kazuhiko Koshikawa, the Ambassador of Japan to the Philippines, in simple rites at the latter’s official residence in Forbes, Park Makati last Tuesday.
Witnessing the occasion were International Gymnastics Federation President Morinari Watanabe of Japan, Commissioner Celia Kiram of the Philippines Sports Commission, Calamba Special Services chief Noemi Talatala, Calamba Schools Division Supt. Susan Oribiana and Calamba special projects head Ronald Manong.
“This is a huge help to us because we are seeing the growth of gymnastics in the countryside so we need more gyms where they can train properly and well with the right equipment,” Carrion said of the project being done in cooperation with the Calamba city government under Mayor Justin Marc Chipeco.
“We hope that this gym will be the start of many that will be built all over the country so we can have more gymnastics potentials for our national teams. We have seen a lot of promising talents, especially in rhythmic gymnastics, outside of Metro Manila,” she added.
“Calamba is a good start for us.”
Koshikawa said the grant would be enough for a new set of gymnastics apparatus, including parallel bars, vaulting boards, rings, beams, round horse, and mats, among others.
He noted the fact that two-time world gymnastics champion and Tokyo Olympic Games veteran Carlos Edriel Yulo had been training in Japan and expressed hope the equipment would be used to discover a new generation of Filipino talents for international competitions.
Oribiana said the new gym will be set up within the premises of the Calamba Elementary School, “which is more commonly known in Calamba as our Central 2. It is in the center of the city and near the old city hall.”
“The gym is just a stone’s throw away from the residence of our national hero Jose Rizal and St. John the Baptist Church so is quite accessible,” noted Talatala. “This project is significant because most of our schoolchildren have been stagnant because of the pandemic. Its use will bring them back into shape.
“Our existing gymnastics program under Ma’am Oribiana is very strong. Our gymnasts are quite competitive so we can hone them even better as they aspire to the level of Caloy (Yulo’s nickname). We hope to lure more children into the sport with this new gym.”
