PSC-led sports tourism body pulls all the stops for FIG Jr Gymnastics

MANILA – The 3rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships will greatly benefit from the new National Sports Tourism Inter-Agency Committee (NST-IAC) formed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

Philippine Sports Commission Chairperson Patrick Gregorio said the NST-IAC is supporting the event, slated at Manila Marriott Hotel Grand Ballroom in Pasay City on Nov. 20 to 24, all throughout.

A total of 762 participants from 72 countries signed up for the world juniors.

“In bidding for the hosting of international meets, both private sector represented by national sports associations (NSAs) and the government will be on the same page,” Gregorio said during the PSC-organized inter-agency coordination meeting at the event venue on Nov. 3, as stated in a news release Wednesday.

“With the NST-IAC, both sectors can now work together without overlapping, how to maximize the brands, like the junior world championships, and maximize the support of the government agencies involved.”

Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) president Cynthia Carrion made the bid for the competition in last year’s International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) Congress in Doha, Qatar.

“When the FIG technical officials visited the country to conduct an ocular inspection on our preparations last August, the GAP was given a gold medal for our organization,” Carrion said during the meeting.

Gymnastics in the Philippines experienced a resurgence after Carlos Yulo won two gold medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The key role of the NST-IAC is to lead plan, source, and/or allocate funds for the bidding of international sporting events, in coordination with relevant international sports governing bodies, sports associations, and other government agencies, including local government units.

It is also mandated “to formulate and implement marketing and promotional strategies to maximize the economic, cultural and social benefits of sports tourism.”

“So if the NSA wants to bid, present us the budget and then we will work it out. We can go to President BBM and Congress and ask for the money to support the hosting,” Gregorio explained.

“It is not unlike before when the NSA would ask the PSC or the Department of Tourism for money for the hosting. Now we have a systematic and all-encompassing process when we as a country bids for the hosting of international sporting events.”

Carrion reported getting positive feedbacks from the foreign contingents, especially with the athletes and participants just walking from their hotels to the competition arena.

“Newport World Resorts hotels has really rolled out the welcome mat for our delegates,” Carrion said of the meet’s najor supporter. — PSC Media (PNA)