
By Jay Leon Guerrero
After watching the Tokyo Olympics, Guam Badminton Center Owner Rui Wang came up with an idea to offer something different. Wang watched the exciting sport of Rock Climbing and wanted to offer this sport to the People of Guam.

After careful planning and patience, his vision will officially be available to the people of Guam as soon as next week.
After successfully launching the Guam Badminton Training Center on Bello Road, Wang surveyed his warehouse space and found space to build a wall.
“After observing the sports climbing event at the Tokyo Olympics, I realized there is a potential need for a facility on Guam for sports climbing,” said Wang.
“I started talking with professional manufacturing companies for panels and presented our space. We wanted to see what they can produce for us in this space we have here in the Badminton Center,” said Wang.
The Wall
After careful planning and bringing in some partners, the Guam Sports Climbing Center will be available and open to the public next week. The Wall construction is complete and alongside the Badminton courts at Wang’s facility on Bello Road.
Wang’s team include Michael Khan and Noah Banez. Khan is a registered nurse at GRMC and also a badminton player. Wang said that Khan brings in al ot of health care perspective of Rock Climbing.
“When I approached Michael about potentially opening Rock Climbing, he was excited because it helps promote health. He sees the sport in a health care perspective and how sports will help prevent disease,” said Wang.
“We were fortune to meet up with Noah (Banez) just three weeks ago. Noah just moved to Guam from Santa Barbara and he is a professional climber who used to work in a gym,” said Wang.
With Wang leading the business and Khan promoting the health benefits of Rock Climbing, Banez provides his experience in the operational and technical perspective to the facility.
There are three types of disciplines in the sport: Lead climbing, Speed climbing and Bouldering.
According to Banez, Lead climbing is used with ropes and focuses on endurance.
Speed climbing is a timed race between two athletes and the fastest time wins. Speed climbing features the same route all over the world.
The third discipline is Bouldering which is a more dynamic and powerful type of climbing. Bouldering has walls of 15 to 20 feet and does not require a harness but has mats at the base.
“The type we have here at this facility is Bouldering,” said Banez. The Bouldering Wall comes in different colors with each color presenting a different degree of difficulty.
Banez said he is available to introduce the public to those who want to learn bouldering and also help those who have experience and want to get better.
“My goal is to impart knowledge to anyone on the island who wants to learn. I will also help those who have experience and want to push it a little further,” said Banez.
“There was a facility on Guam that closed in 2015 that offered rope climbing and bouldering,” said Banez. Banez noted that this is not the first facility to offer climbing. “Now that climbing is offered in the Olympics, that kind of changes things for people,” said Banez.
According to Wang, one of the long term goals of opening the facility is to eventually form a team to compete in the region. The task will take some time and planning, but Wang’s vision is to produce a future Olympian or National Team to represent Guam overseas.
“We are in the process of working to build a National Federation. We hope to compete first in a team format,” said Wang.
Banez said that all are welcome to come and try: “climbing is one of those sports that allows both males and females to compete at the same level in terms of difficulty”.
“Females are typically a little more flexible and balanced while males are more powerful and taller so it allows both (genders) to climb at the same level,” said Banez.
The invitation is open to all who are curious to try or for those who want to commit and compete. Wang said that starting next week, individuals can come and purchase a day pass and see if they want to commit to monthly memberships.


GPS Sports Calendar
December 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for November
1st
ISA BOYS SOCCER
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
2nd
IRON LEGENDS THROWDOWN
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
Events for December
4th
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER
ISA BOYS SOCCER
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
5th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
Events for December
5th
Events for December
7th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER PLAYOFFS
Events for December
9th
40th GRC PLUMERIA ROAD RACE
GUAM RUGBY INTERNATIONAL 7s TOURNAMENT
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
Events for December
10th
TOUR OF GUAM 2023
GUAM RUGBY INTERNATIONAL 7s TOURNAMENT
Events for December
11th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
Events for December
12th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
12th
Events for December
14th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER FINALS
Events for December
15th
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL FINALS
Events for December
16th
3rd GUAM NINJA CHAMPIONSHIP
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
Events for December
16th
Events for December
18th
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER ALL-ISLAND MEETING
Events for December
19th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
19th
Events for December
23rd
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
ISA HS BASEBALL FINALS
Events for December
23rd
Events for December
24th
Events for December
25th
Events for December
27th
Events for December
29th
- 31
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Events for December
30th

Basketball
ISLANDERS AVENGE EARLY SEASON LOSS

Baseball
ROYALS DOWN FRIARS IN STATEMENT GAME

Basketball
3×3 HOOPS REPEAT AS GOLDEN BOYS
COMING SOON …
- IIAAG Girls Basketball Playoffs
- True Grit Rugby Tournament
- IIAAG Boys Soccer Playoffs