GAP declines POC offer for Carlos Yulo to carry PH flag in Tokyo Games

The Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) thumbed down the offer made for Carlos Yulo to carry the Philippine flag in the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics late this month.

GAP president Cynthia Carrion revealed on Tuesday that the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) indeed asked the Filipino gymnastics ace to be the country's flag bearer on the opening day of the Summer Games but they had to decline as Yulo would need the time to rest before his event.

The quadrennial meet is set to open curtains on July 23, just a day before the 21-year-old competes on July 24 at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre.

"They asked him to be the flag bearer but I said no because the next day he has a competition. He has to rest and you know how heavy that flag is for his arm," said Carrion during an interview on Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) forum.

"We will do everything in our power to make him get the gold medal."

Carrion stressed that Yulo is all set for the Games.

In fact, the two-time SEA Games gold medalist had already received his first dose of Pfizer vaccine against the COVID-19 and is expected to complete his vaccination in the coming days.

Carrion, also the POC treasurer, added that Yulo is beaming with confidence with only days left before the Olympics fires off.

"He’s doing very well and when there was a competition, the All-Japan, he did not join but he watched the floor (event) and he said he’s still the best in Japan," Carrion shared.

"What we’re working on with coach Mune (Munehiro Kugimiya) is that he will win a gold medal in the floor, he will win a silver medal in vault and he will be in the finals of the parallel bar."

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News