The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) hopes to discover more world-class talents like Carlos Yulo as it welcomes the opening of the new gymnastics center in Intramuros, Manila on Saturday.

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.

Since the present administration came in 2016, the PSC has given more than P71 million to the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines to cover expenses for the team’s international competitions, training, equipment, training supplies, and other expenses.

The said amount is on top of releases covering allowances of athletes, local coaches and trainers, which in 2021 alone amounted to P7.9 million. In addition, foreign coaches receive P287,000 monthly in salaries and allowances.

PSC has spent P 2.2 million for the training center rental expenses of national gymnasts in 2021 and January 2022 alone. The new facility will serve as the training ground for Yulo and other members of the national team.