Fernández hopeful in continuous training in PH

It is expected that there will be no interruptions when the training activities of the national athletes resume this week. Commissioner Ramón Fernández of the Philippine Sports Commission expressed optimism now that preparations by national athletes for the Tokyo Olympics and other major international gatherings this year are scheduled to begin at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna. . “We hope their training will be ongoing to prepare them in the event of the Tokyo Olympics,” Fernandez said. The PSC official said this following reports of an increase in new coronavirus infections and a new strain of COVID-19 last week in Japan. Aside from the four Filipino athletes who are already qualified, the Philippines is sending more hopefuls to international matches abroad, and in a bid to secure more qualifying spots. Following the discovery of a new variant of COVID-19 in Japan, the Japanese government imposed a ban on non-resident arrivals. This is now one of the challenges facing Olympic officials.

Organizers of the Tokyo Olympics are preparing to launch plans for shortened games this March. Talks of having smaller-scale games are expected to ensure the safety of more than 11,000 athletes who will join. Meanwhile, the presence of PSC medical personnel in Laguna will ensure that all health and safety protocols established by the agency are followed. “We hope it will progress even if we are faced with another variant (of the virus). That will be another challenge. I hope they (the Olympic organizers) will face that, na hindi pumasok, ”added Fernández. The PSC has made bubble-type setup arrangements. This will allow national athletes to finally train after spending almost a year locked up, with some of them doing their training activities online.