THE “bubble” is turning out to be as contagious as the Covid-19.
Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) President Dr. Philip Ella Juico reiterated in an online press conference on Saturday night that the federation wanted its athletes to return to training in an enclosed facility in Laguna.
“I assure you, you will like it,” Juico said about the Patafa’s proposed bubble at the De La Salle campus in Canlubang, Laguna. “This is going to be expensive, but it’s fine.”
Major leagues in the US, foremost of them the National Basketball Association, has returned to training and competition in the so-called “bubble,” an enclosed all-in-one facility that is virus-free.
Entry and exit from the “bubble” is restricted unless extremely essential and the individuals inside the facility are periodically tested and are regularly disinfected.
“There, the athletes will be restricted to move out, and will be provided with ‘the best food and accommodation’ once they hit the ground,” said Juico, adding they are targeting a November 1 date for the “bubble.”
Juico, however, said they couldn’t just go on with the “bubble” saying they would need an approval from the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Imerging Infectious Diseases.
The Patafa head added that the “bubble” is initially intended to run for a month and that it would accommodate 22 athletes and 10 coaches—all of whom are potential qualifiers for the postponed Tokyo Olympics.
Juico said athletes and coaches from the provinces would be fetched from their homes—all expenses paid—once they are selected for the “bubble.” One of them would be 30th Southeat Asian Games women’s marathon gold medalist Christine Hallasgo, who is locked down at home in Malaybalay, Bukidnon.
“I’ve been training here but long runs are not enough,” Hidalgo told the same online press conference. “I only do road runs. But what I need is to train for speed and endurance.”
Pole vaulter EJ Obiena is so far the only Patafa athlete who has already qualified for the Tokyo Olympics. The World Athletics set a December 1 start for the qualification season which ends in May 2021.
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