One month training camp at De La Salle Canlubang in Laguna on November
The Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (PATAFA) plans to hold a training bubble for select national team members as part of its preparations for Olympic qualifying tournaments and the 2021 Southeast Asian Games.
PATAFA chief Philip Juico disclosed this on Saturday, saying the plan will be subject for compliance with the guidelines and approval of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) and the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) signed by the Department of Health, the Philippine Sports Commission and the Games and Amusements Board.
The training camp will be held at a facility inside De La Salle Canlubang in Laguna starting on Nov. 1 and will span for one month.
“We have been planning this as early as July kaso papalit-palit yung quarantine regulations, so it’s been challenging,” Juico said.
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Though he believed there is no such thing as zero risk, Juico said they are preparing necessary precautions for the safety and health of their athletes.
Juico said PATAFA has a private partnership to financially support this program, particularly the dormitories where athletes will stay during the training duration.
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“The PSC advised National Sports Associations to find funds for their program and I believe that and I’ve been saying that NSAs must not be too dependent on the government. They must find partners,” he said.
All national team members are currently in their home provinces since government enforced quarantine restrictions last March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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Some athletes are craving for “actual training,” saying home training is not enough to keep them in top shape.
But the JAO Group is looking at giving exemptions for Olympic qualifiers and hopefuls.