'World Junior Meet big boost for gymnastics development in the Philippines'

THE staging of the 3rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships in the country will have a great positive effect in upgrading both the performance and technical standards of the dynamic Olympic sport locally, according to accomplished Australian coach and judge Nedal Alyousef.

“With Carlos Yulo and your other gymnasts enjoying a good result on the world stage, the next step is having a big international event in your country to boost the performance and technical standards locally,” Alyousef, who now coaches the national men’s artistic gymnastics team, said.

A holder of an FIG Level 3 coaching certificate, the highest in the discipline, the Australian mentor said that the elite gymnastics competition organized by the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines would have a long-term impact for local athletes, coaches and technical officials alike.

“Organizing this in Manila will show the world how capable you are in conducting events like these, and will be a great learning experience for your own gymnasts, coaches and judges,” he added of the competition set from Nov. 20 to 24 at the Manila Marriott Hotel Grand Ballroom in Pasay City.

Also a veteran international brevet judge, having officiated at the Sydney, Rio and Tokyo Olympic Games, among others, Alyousef appreciated the efforts of GAP president Cynthia Carrion in bringing over the meet backed by the Office of the President, Philippine Sports Commission, Newport World Resorts and Cignal as the official broadcast provider.

“We congratulate Madam Cynthia in her forward-looking approach in boldly hosting an international competition of this magnitude, whose positive effects will ripple in the years to come,” the coach, who helped Carlos Edriel Yulo in achieving a golden double in the Paris Olympics, added.

With 72 countries and close to 2,000 athletes and officials coming over to participate in the championships also backed by Milo, Pocari Sweat and sanctioned by the International Gymnastics Federation, Alyousef noted, “this will be a huge boost for your tourism as well.”

Carrion said that this was why the competition’s safe, secure and accessible location was one of the reasons praised by the FIG technical officials, who conducted an ocular inspection of the area in August, considering that the playing arena was a stroll away from the official hotels.

“We would like to thank our Local Organizing Committee chief Kevin Tan for ensuring that the hotels inside the Newport World Resorts for the FIG Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships will be on their toes in giving the world-class service that our participants deserve,” she stressed.

Manila Marriott Hotel, Sheraton Manila, Hilton Manila, Belmont Manila, Hotel Okura, Savoy Hotel and Hilton Express are the official hotel partners, Philippine Airlines the official carrier, and St. Luke's Hospital the official partner for medical services of the meet.DAS

Australian coach Nedal Alyousef (right), with the national men’s gymnastics squad at the last world championships in Jakarta, Indonesia, sees the world juniors as a big boost for the development of local gymnastics.