No Training Yet for SEA Games-Bound Athletes

Filipino athletes who are both secured of their slots in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and those who have yet to secure a slot are already training inside the Calamba training bubble along with the Gilas Pilipinas team that is set to compete in the third window of the 2021 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Asia Cup qualifiers. 

While we're focusing on the upcoming Olympics and the hopes that a Filipino athlete can end the draught for an Olympic gold medal, we still need to remember something: the 2021 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Hanoi, Vietnam will happen from November 21 to December 2. 

However, SEA Games-bound Filipino athletes have yet to start training due to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic as the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases only allowed athletes who are bound for Tokyo to begin their respective training inside the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna.

The good news though: Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chief of Staff and National Training Director Marc Velasco, who spoke on Tuesday's online Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) forum said, "We're working on that," referring to the efforts of the officials of the PSC and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) to get a go-signal from the national government for SEA Games athletes to begin training.  

Velasco assured, "If the IATF gives it a go, we’ll still have to work with the national sports associations about the protocols that needed to be strictly enforced," 

The Philippines is aiming for another top-three finish in Hanoi after winning the overall championship in the 2019 edition here in the country. 

Photo is from RMN Networks