By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
The Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (PATAFA) is looking for temporary training venues for their national athletes for future tournaments, including qualifiers to the Tokyo Olympics.
PATAFA chief Philip Juico said in a recent video conference they have already identified some venues where their athletes can train since Metro Manila venues like the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex and Philsports Complex in Pasig City are being used as medical facilities to fight the coronavirus.
They are the De La Salle Dasmariñas or Vermosa Sports Hub, both in Cavite, and a school in Biñan, Laguna.
They are also looking at other venues inside the National Capital Region.
Like other national sports associations, PATAFA is also requesting that the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) will allow group training and competitions as soon as possible.
NCR, Rizal and Cavite remain on General Enhanced Quarantine until July 15.
Resumption of training is important for the athletes as they are still bidding to gain berths to the Olympics rescheduled next year.
The country is allotted one slot, male or female, should there be no qualifier under the universality rule.
Last month, Juico said PATAFA plans to resume its grassroots and elite programs by August. Part of the proposed plan is is to carry on with the weekly relays aimed at monitoring athletes’ performances, as well as holding the annual National Open in December.
