Venue spectators will not be able to watch the coming action in the Ayala Philippine Athletics Championships, slated to take place on December 16 and 17 in Baguio City.
Strict health and safety protocols imposed by authorities in Baguio City will keep fans from coming to the Baguio Athletic Bowl and watch competitions live.
“This is closed to the public. We will just livestream the events,” said Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association president Philip Ella Juico during Tuesday’s weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association on Zoom.
Juico said this will be their first national championships in two years as many areas in the country were closed down in March 2020 as part of precautions to halt the spread of the COVID-19.
“It’s our first national championships in two years but it’s not the first event we’re staging during the pandemic. We at PATAFA held virtual races and seminars for coaches and trainers,” Juico said.
Track coach Jeffrey Chua said the athletes, including the 40 members of the national pool, are excited for the event.
“They are all excited to compete. Even in training, they are always on the go. We’re very happy that participants from all regions in the country are coming to Baguio,” he said.
The meet was originally set to go on from December 9 to 10 at the Philsports Complex in Pasig City.
But damage to some of the facilities because of heavy rains have forced organizers to do the competitions in Baguio City.
National team members, who have been training under a bubble in Baguio City since October, will be around to see how far they have gone in their preparations.
“Almost two months, they have been there training and they will be there until January 15, before they move to another venue for more training,” said Juico.
The tournament will help the national squad get ready for the Southeast Asian Games and the Asian Games next year.
National athletes will be returning to two facilities under the care of the Philippine Sports Commission starting on January 10.
Around a hundred athletes are expected to show up, including Marestella Torres-Sunang, who has changed her mind on her plans to retire from active competition in women’s long jump.
Christine Hallasgo is also returning, two years after ruling the SEA Games women’s marathon, following a 1-2 finish with Mary Joy-Tabal.
Since there won’t be a marathon event in the National Open, Hallasgo will instead see action in the women’s 10,000 meter run.
Also expected to make their presence felt are reigning Southeast Asian Games gold medallists Clinton Kingsley Bautista (men’s 100-meter hurdles), javelin thrower Melvin Calano and decathlete Aries Toledo.
Juico thanked the sponsors led by Ayala and the City of Baguio headed by Mayor Benjie Magalong, for making things happen and ensuring the safety of all participants, including the observance of health protocols
