'No limitations' in bubble training experience, says Inspire official


Photo from Inspire Sports Academy

National athletes holed up in "Calambubble" are set to maximize their 90-day training camp with "no limitations" as far as all-around support is concerned.

Lee Tajonera, marketing director of the Inspire Sports Academy, told Manila Bulletin that it is high time for national athletes to receive such training experience, especially amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"There are no limitations," Tajonera said in an e-mail interview Sunday night. "Our national athletes carry our nation’s hopes on their backs, and so they deserve all the attention and high level of support which they are getting at Inspire- from the training venues, equipment, accommodations, food, to our special support teams on the ground ensuring our athletes are in the best position to focus 100 percent on their preparations."

The Inspire Sports Academy, located inside the National University-Laguna campus in Calamba, approximately 54 kilometers away from the capital Manila, is proud of its 360-degree sports science and educational support plus the world-class sports facilities itself.

Read: National athletes begin bubble training in Calamba

The sports academy provides state-of-the-art fitness and gym hub and different indoor venues that can be shifted for different usage in respective sports and delegates will temporarily live in a dormitel with eight dorm-type (quadruple sharing) and 32 superior twin (double sharing) rooms for a total of 64 rooms or 176 beds.

Read: What’s inside the Inspire Sports Academy? Safe haven for athletes welcome new batch of guests

This wasn't the first time that Inspire hosted such events as the TNT KaTropa and Gilas Pilipinas underwent training camps as well and the Chooks to Go 3x3 also successfully held its President's Cup last year.

"Preparations have been going on smoothly.  Full attention to the training details and health protocols have been undertaken to ensure overall athlete safety," added Tajonera, giving credit to the joint effort of the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, respective national sports associations, the Calamba City local government, and the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Read: National boxers arrive at Inspire; PSC chief wants zero infection inside bubble

With their respective coaches and staff, among the delegates are from the boxing, karate, and taekwondo national teams seeking Olympic berths for the coronavirus-postponed Tokyo Games in Japan while Gilas Pilipinas is preparing for the last window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers in Clark, Pampanga.

The PSC earlier assured that health and safety protocols, at par with international standards, would be implemented under a "very strict environment."