P7-M seed planted in search for next Carlos Yulo

The grant was finalized by (from left) Federation Internationale de Gymnastique president Morinari Watanabe, GAP president Cynthia Carrion-Norton, PSC Commissioner Celia Kiram and Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhiko Koshikawa. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

World champion gymnast Carlos Edriel Yulo is approaching his peak in a couple of years, but the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) is already looking to uncover gems who could take his place in the future.

Gymnastics chief Cynthia Carrion-Norton announced that a new facility for the sport will rise in Calamba, Laguna, to cater to the growing demand of gymnastics enthusiasts in Southern Luzon with the Japanese government donating approximately P7 million worth of equipment used mostly during the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

“This is really the beginning. There are a lot of kids passionate about gymnastics, but they don’t have the facilities,’’ said Carrion-Norton during the signing of the $133,935 grant at the Forbes Park residence of the Japanese ambassador to the Philippines.

Japan ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa signed the assistance for the advancement of the GAP training facility through the Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Project with Federation Internationale de Gymnastique president Morinari Watanabe and Commissioner Celia Kiram of the Philippine Sports Commission in attendance.

“Today, we officially agreed that Japan will provide world-class equipment to the new gymnastic facility of GAP. Actually some of the equipment was used in the gymnastics competitions at the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games,’’ said Koshikawa.

“We hope this project will inspire more to try gymnastics and help young Filipino gymnasts to achieve their dreams, following Yulo’s footsteps,’’ added Koshikawa.

It was through the help of Watanabe, the Philippine Sports Commission, the MVP Sports Foundation and the Japan Olympic Association that Yulo transformed from a fun-loving kid from Leveriza, Manila, to a world champion almost a decade later.

“We’re now moving forward and this is exactly what we need, the development of young gymnasts,’’ said Carrion-Norton.