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Medals awarded to the winners of international sports competitions are often distinct and unique, and those crafted for the 3rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships will be no different from the rest.
The beautiful clam-shaped medals awarded to the gold, silver and bronze medalists of the blue-ribbon competition set from Nov. 20 to 24 at the Manila Marriott Hotel Grand Ballroom inside the Newport World Resorts in Pasay City will be cherished mementoes forever by those who earned them, according to Gymnastics Association of the Philippines president Cynthia Carrion.
“We recognize the hard work and effort of our young athletes in striving to gain glory for flag and country. So we created these attractive medals in tribute to their achievements at the world juniors,” Carrion said.
“More than anything else, every time they look at their medals, our top performers will feel and sense that their feats were worthy of the struggles and challenges they went through in achieving them,” she stressed.
Similar in design to the official competition logo, the sparkling medals have the FIG emblem as the “pearl” centerpiece with the “3rd” insignia wrapped around its edges, while silhouettes of a male gymnast on the rings and a female gymnast flipping on the balance beam are above them.
The location, Pasay City, and dates are also engraved into the medals of the meet supported by Office of the President, President Sports Commission and Department of Tourism.
Carrion revealed that aside from the medals that the men’s and women’s medalists will each receive a plushie of the official mascot – Bughaw for the boys winners and Lila for the girls – in the competition likewise supported by Smart/PLDT and Cignal TV as the official broadcast partner.
“These cute and cuddly mascots are part of our exclusive package in recognizing the gallant feats of these young athletes, who will emerge as the next generation of world gymnastics stars,” she said.
Among those aspiring to stand out in the tournament also backed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., Milo and Pocari Sweat is the younger brother of Paris Olympic Games Carlos Edriel Yulo, Karl Edlrew.
The younger Yulo is currently training intensively in Tokyo, Japan, the GAP chief said, and is keen on excelling in front of hometown fans in the championships that has Philippine Airlines is the official carrier and St. Luke’s Hospital the official partner for medical services.
No less than renowned Japanese coach Munehiro Kugimiya, who groomed the older Yulo for a long time in becoming a world and Olympic champion, has been preparing Karl Eldrew in excelling in the global junior gymnastics spectacular.
The Manila Marriott Hotel, Sheraton Manila, Hilton Manila, Belmont Manila, Hotel Okura, Savoy Hotel and Hilton Express are the official hotel partners.