All set for world gymnastics meet

The stage is set for the country’s hosting of the 3rd Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships at the Newport World Resorts from 20 to 25 November.

In fact, top International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) technical officials are now in the country to inspect the competition venue, making sure that the event will be a massive success, a year after Carlos Yulo made history by winning two gold medals in the Paris Olympics.

Coming to Manila are FIG men's artistic gymnastics (MAG) technical committee president Andrew Tombs, women’s artistic gymnastics (WAG) technical committee president Donatella Sacchi, MAG senior events manager Stepane Detraz and WAG senior events manager Celine Cachemaille.

“We welcome the leading technical officials from the FIG who will see to it that the venue and other related areas meet the strict and rigid requirements for the 3rd Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships,” Gymnastics Association of the Philippines president Cynthia Carrion said.

“We have left no stone unturned so that the participants in this global junior gymnastics showcase will not only have great time competing at a world-class arena but also in a safe, warm and hospitable environment,” Carrion, the local organizing committee (LOC) executive director, stressed.

On the first day of their formal visit, she said, the FIG technical group will take a close look at the Manila Marriot Manila Grand Ballroom, site of the field of play and where the 2015 Asia Taekwondo Olympic Qualifying Tournament was held, and its adjacent warm-up training venues.