Robinsons Land’s Bridgetowne to Host Two International Sports Events in August

Robinsons Land’s Bridgetowne Destination Estate is set to host two sporting competitions this August: World Obstacle’s Ninja World Cup No. 1 and the International Modern Pentathlon Union’s New Fifth Discipline Test Event. Organized in partnership with the Pilipinas Obstacle Sports Federation (POSF), both events will be held from August 6 to 7 at Bridgetowne Central Park.

“Bridgetowne’s expansive spaces and roads make it conducive to outdoor sports such as obstacle course races – there is plenty of space to set up the obstacles, [and for] biking, running, and more, making it a great and safe place for families, young and old alike, if they’re looking for active fun, sports, and adventure,” said Loise Albert Montes, Senior Development Director for Bridgetowne.

The Ninja World Cup hopes to inspire the community to conquer obstacles and promote inclusivity with a sports-for-all initiative catering to all age groups and to athletes with and without disabilities. IMAGE courtesy of Pilipinas Obstacle Sports Federation

Sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de Sports d’Obstacles (World Obstacle, for short), the Ninja World Cup is a speed event where athletes make their way through 12 obstacles, including rope swings, monkey bars, balance beams, and a “tsunami” curved wall, over a 100-meter course. Open to all athletes aged 13 and up, the Bridgetowne event makes up the competition’s first leg while the second leg will be held in Indiana, USA.

Taking place simultaneously is a test event for the modern pentathlon. In a bid to make the multi-discipline sport, which consists of fencing, swimming, horse riding, pistol shooting, and cross-country running, more economically feasible and attractive to today’s athletes, the International Modern Pentathlon Union has proposed replacing the equestrian event with the obstacle discipline. The new event, which was first tried out in June after the 2022 Modern Pentathlon World Cup in Ankara, Turkey, features a challenging course designed in collaboration with World Obstacle.

 Ninjas swinging their way through a section of the challenging 100-meter-long obstacle course. IMAGE courtesy of Pilipinas Obstacle Sports Federation

To accommodate both major sporting events, two obstacle courses will be set up side by side at the future site of Bridgetowne Obstacle Park. Opening in September, this 6,000-square-meter park with 25 obstacles will be the biggest permanent obstacle facility of its kind in the world, and will accommodate training sessions and obstacle course races managed by certified coaches and national and elite athletes. To be operated by POSF, the park will be an important part of its "Obstacle Sports for All Everywhere" initiative.

While POSF has been around only since 2017, its president, Atty. Alberto Agra, is proud that the organization and its athletes have already made a major impact on the sport, from setting world records in the male and female categories of the 100m obstacle course race in April, to dominating the field at the world’s highest OCR on Mount Kilimanjaro in 2021. Now, it is involved with the inaugural Ninja World Cup No. 1 event and the soon-to-open Bridgetowne Obstacle Park. “Notwithstanding the pandemic, the POSF has set firsts. So, whether it’s coaches’ development, para [athlete] development, LGBTQIA projects, obstacle facilities, events – we’re trailblazing,” said Atty. Agra.

For Mybelle Aragon-GoBio, Senior Vice-President and General Manager of Robinsons Integrated Developments Division, the “mutual advocacy on winning, resilience, and the value of conquering obstacles” is what binds the exciting partnership between Bridgetowne and POSF. “With Bridgetowne’s proposition of being a destination that ignites the winning spirit and bridges powerful and meaningful connections that let you win at work and in life, there is no better place to do the Ninja World Cup and [build] the biggest obstacle sports park but here,” said GoBio.

"The Victor", a towering sculpture by the Filipino-American artist Jefrë Figueras Manuel, captures Bridgetowne's proposition of "igniting the winning spirit." IMAGE courtesy of Robinsons Land

Apart from its involvement in sports events and development, Bridgetowne will soon unveil a 20-story-high public art installation dubbed "The Victor," designed by Filipino-American visual artist Jefrë Figueras Manuel. The towering sculpture will rise next to Bridgetowne’s landmark 200-meter bridge connecting Quezon City and Pasig City. “Our mission is to build beyond buildings, to nurture a community and espouse a lifestyle conducive for people to live-work-play-inspire,” added GoBio.

For more information on RLC's Bridgetowne, visit robinsonsland.com/industrial-and-integrated-developments-division or follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/robinsonsdestinationestates.

To register for the Ninja World Cup No. 1, click here.