PSC Commissioner Ramon Fernandez yesterday said repairs have begun at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila and the Philsports Complex in Pasig City in preparation for the actual training of national athletes starting Jan. 10 next year for the Vietnam Southeast Asian Games in May.
“The PSC has received approval from the national government’s Inter-Agency Task Force in charge of the pandemic for the use of the RMSC and Philsports Complex for the training of national athletes for the SEA Games starting Jan. 10,” Fernandez, the national squad chief of mission, said.
With the number of infections going down and restrictions being eased in Metro Manila, the IATF is now willing to move out of the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Ninoy Aquino Stadium and Philsports Arena, which were used as quarantine facilities since early last year.
“The IATF will likely move the quarantine areas to the Philippine International Convention Center or any other conducive facility, paving the way for the actual training of our national athletes not only for the SEA Games but also for the Asian Games later next year,” Fernandez said.
Fernandez said repairs have begun at the dormitories at the Philsports Complex that were damaged last year by rains when lockdowns were enforced by the government to curb the spread of the contagious and deadly virus.
He added that he is set to meet with Philippine Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham
“Bambol” Tolentino next week to discuss the country’s build-up for the regional sportsfest that was rescheduled to May 2022 upon the request of the Vietnamese organizers due to the rising COVID-19 cases across the region.
Fernandez said his talks with Tolentino will come before Vietnam meets with the chiefs of mission of all 11 participating countries this December.
Tolentino had said the Philippines will field 626 athletes in 29 of the 30 disciplines in the Vietnam Games.
In the 2019 SEA Games, the Philippines regained the overall crown with 149 gold, 117 silver and 121 bronze medals.
