Carrion, GAP eye successful hosting

The Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) will leave no stone unturned in coming up with a successful hosting of the 3rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships from 20 to 24 November at the Marriott Grand Ballroom in Pasay City.

GAP president Cynthia Carrion said they are determined to come up with a spectacular and memorable hosting in the prestigious event where around 7,000 young gymnasts from 93 countries will compete.

"The Philippines is very grateful and happy to be given the hosting rights for the 3rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships,” Carrion said.

“It is the very first time that the FIG (International Gymnastics Federation) has given us this honor and I will do everything in my power to make sure it is a successful event since FIG president (Morinori) Watanabe and the FIG executive committee have put their trust in me."

To ensure that the Philippines will have a fighting chance, Carrion sent Eldrew Yulo — the younger brother of two-time Paris Olympics champion Carlos Yulo — to Japan to train under the watchful eye of Japanese mentor Munehiro Kugimiya.

Eldrew already showed flashes of brilliance during the Asian Gymnastics Championships held in Jecheon, South Korea from 5 to 15 June as he clinched a silver medal in the junior men’s vault event.

“Eldrew will win it. It will be nice for the country to see our athlete win the gold medal in our country,” Carrion assured.

In a statement, Watanabe stressed that the upcoming Junior World Championships and the upcoming 53rd Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Jakarta from 19 to 25 October will serve as an opportunity to spread the sport in other areas of the world.

"This means that this year's junior and senior world championships in artistic gymnastics will both be held in countries that have never held a World Championships before. It will be an adventure like gymnastics' own discovery of the Americas, where recent continental championships have also been held in new countries,” Watanabe said.

“Independence and challenges have begun all over the world. FIG welcomes them and we will all support them."