2021: A Busy Year for Filipino Athletes

2020 is now a part of history and 2021 is rolling and is filled with hope especially for athletes worldwide. 

Filipino athletes to be specific.

2020 saw sports hitting the pause button for a long time as the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic forced governments to prohibit mass gatherings. While some leagues were able to hold what was left of their respective seasons by holding games inside bubbles, 2020 was basically a year the world of sports took a break. Now that the vaccines are rolling out left and right, athletes can expect a busier year.

For Filipino athletes, their 2021 isn't just about the Tokyo Olympics in July and the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in November. 

Happening from April 2 to 10 is the Asian Beach Games in Sensya, China. From there, Filipinos will be joining another multisport event in the form of the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games that are set from May 21 to 30 in Bangkok and Chonburi in Thailand. The 3x3 basketball is included in the games for the May event.  The Asian Youth Games and Asian Youth Paragames both happen during the latter parts of 2021 as the Youth Games are set from November 20 to 28 in Shantou, China while the Paragamees are set from December 1 to 10 in Manama, Bahrain. 

Of course, the Tokyo Olympics is a big event for Filipino athletes as it presents what our sports officials are saying as the Philippines' best chance to win its first Olympic gold medal. The Tokyo games are scheduled from July 23 to August 8. Meanwhile, this year's SEA Games will be played from November 21 to December 2 in Hanoi, Vietnam. 

Not only 2021 will be a busy year for Filipino athletes. It will also kickstart the gradual return of normality for sports.  

Photo is from Rappler