Patafa sees light at end of tunnel

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) is ready to get on the starting block under the new normal.

Patafa president Philip Ella Juico said the association has formulated its “multi-setting protocol” as it prepares to get the tracksters back to training and hold weekly relays once authorities give them the go-signal.

“We plan to resume,” Juico said as he presented the protocol during the first Patafa “In the Zone” web conference last Sunday.

“We have in fact a new training protocol on how our athletes are to conduct training leading to the National Open, which we plan to have in the first week of December. This is a qualifier for the Tokyo Olympics,” he added.

Juico stressed the plan is naturally dependent on the government but he sees hope in the IATF’s latest guidelines.

Per the IATF’s May 22 resolution, indoor and outdoor non-contact sports are allowed provided there’s minimum health standards, like sports events with only 50 percent of the venue being occupied under the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).

“There is light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. “Sports events will be allowed by July and August, which fits perfectly to our timing.”

Patafa’s return to camp rules include maintaining safe distance, solo warmup and stretching, alternate lanes and adequate intervals between runners, one jumper at a time with adequate intervals, pre-disinfection of throwing implements, and departure from venue immediately and individually.