Capas, Tarlac—Facilities that will be used for the coming 2019 Southeast Asian Games will now include a high-performance gymnasium.
Officials of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority and architects involved said the gymnasium was finally added after proposals forwarded by Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee chairman Allan Peter Cayetano and former special assistant to the president Christopher “Bong” Go were approved.
The gymnasium will consist of all the facilities that are necessary for the scientific training and development of national athletes.
“Matagal na pong pinag-uusapan, matagal nang pinaplano at matagal nang sinasabi ng gobyerno. Pero sa termino si President Duterte, hindi na po ito salita, hindi na po ito plano. Totoo pong nangyayari,” said BCDA president and CEO Vicencio Dizon.
Dizon said this during a presentation. Cayetano, Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez, Go, retired track star Lydia de Vega-Mercado and swimming icon and former PSC chairman Eric Buhain were in the audience.
The facilities will include a nutrition lab, technology room, treadmill room and a gymnastics area.
“This gym is an inspiration for the athletes,” said Royal Pineda.
Work is now in progress on venues that will be used for the Games, which are set to be held from Nov. 30 to Dec. 6.
The area north of Manila will include a 20,000 seating capacity athletics stadium, a 2,000 seating capacity aquatics center, an athletes village and other support facilities.
The venues are part of a P13.6-billion project, known as Phase 1A of the New Clark City (NCC).
Other facilities that are being readied for the games are in the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan
The athletes’ village will have 2,100 beds, and will be home to athletes, officials, and volunteers for the duration of the Games.
And it is set to open on Nov. 20.
The aquatics center will have an eight-lane training pool, a 10-lane competition pool and a maximum depth of five meters.
On the other hand, the track stadium will have a 400-meter standard track with nine lanes.