WITH slightly over a month to go, the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) is stepping up its preparations for arguably an innovative and the biggest international sporting event to be held in the country in terms of its record-breaking number of participating nations and athletes.
Riding on the wave of gymnast Carlos Edriel Yulo’s historic golden double in the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Philippines will be the global epicenter of the dynamic discipline when the 3rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships officially springs into action from Nov. 20 to 24 at the Manila Marriott Grand Ballroom inside the Newport World Resorts in Pasay City.
Delegates are expected to arrive as early as November 14 with some expected to stay a few days beyond November 25, presenting a valuable opportunity to generate a welcome boost for local business. Adding star power to the event, GAP Board Member Derek Ramsay will host the opening ceremony.
‘We are going all out in our effort in the hosting of this huge international sporting competition featuring the world’s top junior gymnasts, a showcase for their skills and talent amid a lively, festive and warm atmosphere that only Filipinos are known for,’ said GAP president Cynthia Carrion proudly.
‘The Philippines has a proven track record for staging memorable and impressive international competitions and the GAP, with the help of its partners, has also set the bar high to ensure that our hosting of the 3rd Junior World Championships will not only measure up but also even exceed expectations,’ the lively GAP official stressed.
Using her charm and persuasive powers, Carrion said that this was why that the board of the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG), led by Japanese president Morinari Watanabe, had no qualms in awarding the hosting rights of the world junior gymnastics showcase during the FIG Congress in Doha, Qatar last November 2024.
FIG Technical Officials Give Thumbs Up
She disclosed that even top technical officials of the world gymnastics body, popularly known by its French acronym FIG, were quite impressed by what they saw of the plans for the third edition of the meet that began in 2019 in Gyor, Hungary during their two-day ocular inspection last August.
‘On behalf of the group (FIG), I can say that we’re extremely impressed about their preparation. The junior gymnasts here will have the best conditions to compete-not only in training but also in the competition, and in the hotels and in the transport,’ noted FIG WAG Senior Events Manager Celine Patricia Cachemaille of Switzerland.
‘Everything is being made for them to have a great experience here in the Philippines.’
Cachemaille’s sentiments were echoed by Donatella Sacchi and Andrew Tombs, presidents of the FIG Women’s Artistic Gymnastics (WAG) and Men’s Artistic Gymnastics (MAG) Technical Committees, respectively.
‘We are very impressed, not only because they are very friendly and have new ideas, but because they developed this organization, which is a complex organization, in such a short time. So we can see here a lot of energy, a lot of new ideas, and people that will host our delegation with a big heart.’ Sacchi enthused.
‘Clearly, the organizers (GAP) are well prepared and I know many gymnasts around the world are very excited to be coming. For many of them, this is their first major championship, the start of their journey hopefully towards the Olympic Games, whether it is the Youth Olympic Games next year or in 2028 (in Los Angeles),’ Tombs pointed out.
FIG Men’s Artistic Senior Events Manager Stephane Detraz agreed with his colleague’s, saying: ‘With meticulous planning, the GAP is gearing up to deliver a world-class event that will showcase the grace, strength and passion of the next generation of gymnasts. The Philippines is set to make this championship an unforgettable experience for athletes, coaches, and fans from around the world.’
To ensure a seamless competition, the GAP convened a general coordination meeting recently with key committees covering hotels, transports, accreditation, security, logistics, and other related key areas.
Record-breaking Turnout Poised to Boost Sports Tourism and Local Economy
Carrion revealed that proof that the blue-ribbon competition has generated popular interest in the international gymnastics community were the 77 countries and 846 athletes that have registered so far for the gymnastics world championships, easily surpassing the previous two occasions when the event was held.
The GAP executive said that these numbers exceeded the 64 countries and 234 campaigners who took part in the 2nd junior worlds in Antalya, Turkey.
‘We believe a reason for this record-breaking turnout is our famed Filipino hospitality that other nationalities have heard about from their own compatriots who visited our country, and keep coming back,’ Carrion said. ‘Our goal is to attain a Grade 10 rating for hosting excellence. We aim to deliver not only an outstanding gymnastics showcase but also to give our guests an exceptional experience. Everything that we are doing is about promoting sports tourism and helping fuel the local economy. When delegates have a positive experience, they are encouraged to explore, visit more destinations, and return to the Philippines.’
She thanked the Newport World Resorts, the premier leisure, entertainment, shopping and gaming resort across the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, for being the site of the prestigious championships.
For the first time in gymnastic world championships history, the field of play will move from the traditional sports arena to the elegance and comfort of a hotel setting. This bold and innovative move impressed FIG, proving how creativity and vision can redefine not only where athletes compete, but also how the sport is experienced. More than a change of venue, it marks a new way of thinking in event hosting.
‘We would like to express our gratitude to Newport World Resorts’ Kevin Tan, who is also our Local Organizing Committee Chairman, for accommodating us in staging this grand junior world championships,’ Carrion said.
With the Manila Marriott Grand Ballroom as the major hub of activity, she said, ‘our participants are assured of a confined, comfortable and secure environment, living in hotels that are virtually a stroll away from the competition arena.’
The Manila Marriott Hotel, Sheraton Manila, Hilton Manila, Belmont Manila, Hotel Okura, Savoy Hotel and Hilton Express within the Newport World Resorts will serve as the official accommodations of the delegates, according to Carrion.
She also recognized the support of the Office of the President, Philippine Sports Commission, and Newport World Resorts in making the upcoming event possible.
World Juniors Slogan, Logo Unveiled
Giving the event its own distinct character are the slogan and logo of the 3rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships.
After several brainstorming sessions, ‘Leap High, Flip Strong!’ was chosen by the local gymnastics body as the slogan or motto for the event.
‘Leap High, Flip Strong!’ is more than just a campaign slogan. It’s a rallying cry of our 24-million Filipino youth to mount a leap of faith especially in these challenging times, and to explore and soar high in search for growth and development,’ Carrion elaborated.
On the other hand, the Philippine-inspired logo was taken from the country’s renowned title as ‘The Pearl of the Orient Seas,’ a lustrous, lush and hospitable nation of over 100 million people.
‘At the heart of the design is the FIG logo, representing the unifying spirit of international gymnastics,’ noted a description on the GAP official Facebook account.
‘The pearl metaphor reflects the young athletes (as depicted inside the shell). They are rare, talented, full of potential and ready to shine one world stage,’ it said. ‘Just like pearls formed through time and pressure, these gymnasts represent the result of years of dedication, discipline and dreams.’
The stylized open shell ‘serves as a direct tribute to the Philippines and our role as proud host of this global event.’ It ‘represents a welcoming nation offering a safe and supportive space where future champions are discovered, celebrated, and inspired.’
‘After all, we are staging this event so that a new generation of gymnastics stars from all over the globe will be nurtured and discovered, representing their countries in international play in the future with pride and excellence,’ Carrion said.