BY NICK GIONGCO
Chief of mission Nonong Araneta is entering the homestretch of his daily online discussions with leaders of about 16 national sports associations that have athletes waiting for the green light to resume full-scale training for qualifying events for Tokyo Olympics.
Araneta called for the dialogue to get the NSA leaders’ respective blueprints relative to the resumption of training for their athletes.
The order was for NSAs to submit a detailed document outlining the safety protocols that will guarantee the well-being not only of the athletes but of their coaches and other essential personnel.
Once Araneta collates the NSAs’ proposals, he well send out a report to the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), which will then forward them to the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for approval.
So far, basketball (Philippine Basketball Association) and football have been given the go-signal to resume training.
Araneta feels it is imperative that other sports, especially those that are nursing Olympic hopes, be allowed to run training programs just for the select few.
Though there is still no certainty as to whether the Olympics will proceed as scheduled for July 23-Aug. 9 next year, allowing at least those with genuine Olympic aspirations to train should be a step in he right direction.
Since last week, Araneta has conferred with rowing, fencing, boxing, triathlon, karate, gymnastics, judo, archery, basketball and cycling.
The consultative talks will happen until Tuesday or Wednesday with Araneta expected to be in the possession of every NSAs’ proposed guidelines for training.
Next on tap are the NSAs of skateboarding, table-tennis, taekwondo, canoe-kayak, wresting and weightlifting.
Just before the lockdown was imposed last March, the Philippines had only qualified four athletes.
Boxers Eumir Marcial and Irish Magno, world champion gymnast Carlos Yulo, now training in Japan, and Italy-based pole vaulter EJ Obiena are the early qualifiers.
Rio Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz is expected to make the Olympic grade as she continues to work out in Malaysia under supervision by her team.
Also in the running are judoka Kiyomi Watanabe, US-based track and field talents Kyla Richardson and thrower Willie Morrison, mountain biker Ariana Dormitorio and BMX daredevil Daniel Caluag and two or three more boxers.
