World champion Carlos Yulo spearheaded the inauguration of the MVP Sports Foundation Gymnastics Center in Intramuros, Manila Saturday.
Yulo, who is back in town from Japan, joined his Japanese coach Munehiro Kugimiya and Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) president Cynthia Carrion in the turnover ceremony that was also attended by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Philippines' representative to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski.
Also present were Philippine Sports Commissioner Celia Kiram and MVP Sports Foundation Executive Director Jude Turcuato.
The gymnastics center, which features upgraded facilities, hopes to inspire national team members and aspirants to train and become world-class gymnasts like Yulo.
The PH team used to train at a facility inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.
Yulo has been based in Japan for the past couple of years training under Kugimiya where he eventually honed his skills and became a two-time world champion.
His recent world championship feat came last year in vault held in Kitakyushu, Japan.
With the unveiling of the new facility, the PSC hopes to discover more world-class gymnasts like Yulo.
PSC chairman Butch Ramirez said the Board believes local gymnasts can achieve more in the coming years and follow the footsteps of Yulo, a world champion and a Tokyo Olympian.
“This is why we support them in ways that our limited resources could. Our collective efforts in developing sports can produce more Caloys in the future,” Ramirez said.
Yulo, a product of PSC’s Batang Pinoy and Philippine National Games programs, honed his talent and skills inside the gymnastics center at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
Ramirez thanked Yulo for raising the bar high for Philippine gymnastics and putting the country in the international map of the sport.
“It just proves that hard work is the key to the fulfillment of a dream. I hope he inspires more youth to pursue their dreams and motivates us to further expand our grassroots program,” Ramirez said.