There is no need for national athletes training and preparing abroad for the Tokyo Olympics to go home.
They will just have to stay put and continue getting ready from where they are.
Commissioner Celia Kiram said this following the Philippine Sports Commission’s online board meeting last Friday.
This means that weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, pole vaulter EJ Obiena and gymnast Carlos Yulo will just have to stay put in Malaysia, Italy and Japan, respectively, for the meantime.
“Maigi na nandoon sila. Para continuously makakapag-train sila,” said Kiram, who is currently the officer in charge in the PSC, while chairman William Ramirez is not available.
Kiram said the facilities inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Vito Cruz, Manila won’t be available for a long period of time.
This is because many areas inside the RMSC are being used a medical and quarantine facilities for coronavirus-positive patients.
“Hindi muna magagamit ang mga facilities sila sa Ninoy Aquino Stadium at sa Rizal Memorial Coliseum. Ginagamit pa naman bilang quarantine facility,” added Kiram.
The agency was earlier concerned about how they will be able to bring back the three.
That’s after the agency looked into the status of those training abroad for the Tokyo Olympics and other international competitions.
Lockdowns have also been imposed in the three countries, Italy, Malaysia and Japan, to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
But the facilities that they are in are safe and available for training.
And the continued preparation of the three under safe conditions could keep them from going home for now.
Diaz has been training in Malaysia since January, after travel restrictions were imposed in China, following the initial threat of the pandemic emerged in Wuhan.
Obiena is currently doing fitness training, while in his dormitory in Formia, a seaside town located between Rome and Naples. Italy is one of the hardest coronavirus-hit countries in Europe.
Meanwhile, Yulo continues to train and study while in Tokyo, Japan, which is limiting travel to residents and foreigners alike.