Amid the cool, captivating, and refreshing scenery of Tagaytay City, lively, dynamic, and energetic action takes center stage on Wednesday with the colorful opening ceremony of the 10th Aero Gymnastics Asian Championships, presented by the Philippine Sports Commission, at the Tagaytay CT Velodrome.
Carrying the theme “Leap, Dance, One Asia,” nearly 400 gymnasts from 12 countries will compete in the three-day meet organized by the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines, led by president Cynthia Carrion, and sanctioned by the Asian Gymnastics Union.
“We are all excited over the staging of this event, which promises to be an entertaining and dynamic festival symbolizing the harmony, unity and camaraderie that sports can achieve among our Asian aerobic gymnasts even in a competitive atmosphere,” Carrion said.
“That we are holding the championships in the beautiful city of Tagaytay and at the reconfigured Tagaytay CT Velodrome will be a unique and memorable experience for our participants and fans alike,” she added.
Last staged two years ago in Hanoi, Vietnam, the 2026 edition of the continental aerobic gymnastics showcase will be held at the world-class, UCI-certified Tagaytay CT Velodrome, which has been reconfigured to accommodate three competition floors and a 3,000-seat gallery for spectators.
“We will have a VIP box for our honored guests where they will have a vantage view while the athletes perform and display their artistry and athleticism during the meet,” the gymnastics chief said.
Taking a page from the country’s highly successful staging of the 3rd Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships last year, organizers have also produced the music video “One Asia, One Victory” for the competition, which is also supported by the Philippine Olympic Committee, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, and the Tagaytay City government led by Mayor Brent Tolentino.
Carrion also disclosed that winners will receive one-of-a-kind medals featuring the famed Taal Lake and Volcano, serving as memorable keepsakes of their achievements in the competition.
The event’s adorable mascots, “Bughaw” and “Lila,” now dressed in aerobic gymnastics tights and leotards, will also help bring excitement to the tournament while promoting sports tourism in the picturesque and progressive city overlooking Taal Lake, just a short drive south of Metro Manila.
Meanwhile, PSC Chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio said the event highlights the country’s efforts to promote tourism through international sporting competitions.
“The 10th Aero Gymnastics Championships is another fine example of using the hosting of international events to boost our top local tourist attractions like Tagaytay City,” noted PSC Chairman Pato Gregorio.
“While local tourists are already aware of its reputation as a great tourist destination, there are still a lot of foreigners who may not know Tagaytay’s natural and man-made charms,” Gregorio, also the head of the National Sports Tourism Interagency Committee, said.
He pointed to the “People’s Park in the Sky,” which offers panoramic views of Taal Lake, as well as the Shrine of Our Lady Mother of Fair Love, both of which have become popular attractions for local tourists, especially on weekends.
For visitors who enjoy outdoor dining, Gregorio recommended the Tagaytay Picnic Grove, where families can enjoy meals while taking in the breathtaking view of Taal Lake amid lush surroundings.
“If our foreign participants feel chilly and want something hot, there is the Mahogany Beef Market nearby where they can have a steaming bowl of bulalo, our Filipino comfort food of beef and bone marrow soup,” he suggested.
“Tagaytay City nearly has everything a tourist can offer in a compact and cool location. We are certain that our athletes and officials will be leaving the country with fond memories of the place in spending their time there.”
