GAP receives gymnastic equipment from Japanese gov’t

THE country’s quest to develop world-class, high-caliber gymnasts in the mold of Carlos Yulo got the needed shot in the arm as the Japanese government through its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Development Program donated top of the line equipment to the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines.

GAP president Cynthia Carrion accepted the donations from Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko in an elaborate ceremony witnessed by no less than former President and currently House Majority Senior Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Friday at the gymnastics training center inside the historic Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Vito Cruz, Malate, Manila.

“This is for our grassroots program. This would help us to train and mold our young athletes to become world-class gymnast like Yulo (Carlos),” said Carrion.

The equipment like mats, balance beams, bars, and other gear worth P7 million were used during the 2022 Tokyo Olympics.

“The facilities in Intramuros which was donated by the MVP Foundation is for our elite athletes, while this one coming from Japan will be used solely by the training pool and the developmental group,” added Carrion.

Witnessing the ceremony were Yulo and his Japanese coach Kugimiya, Isabela Rep. Faustino Michael Dy, the chairman of the House Committee on Youth and Sports, Philippine Olympic Committee deputy secretary general Carl Sambrano and Philippine Sports Commission commissioner Walter ‘Wawit’ Torres.

“Malaking tulong po itong mga equipment para mas maraming bata ang maenganyo na maging gymnasts. Mas maraming talents mas malaki ang oportunidad para sa ating bansa,” said Carlos, who won three gold medals in the recently concluded World Championships.

A bunch of young gymnast wannabe including Yulo’s neighbors in Leveriza, a street just a stone throw away from the RSMC, greeted the Japanese entourage as a show of gratitude.