Preparing and training national athletes at the Amoranto Sports Complex in Quezon City is no longer advisable as the condition of the 5.8-hectare facility, neglected over the last eight years, has fallen below international standards.
Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said he has discussed the status of the velodrome with the Philippine Sports Commission a number of times.
“Ang Amoranto ay hindi na puwede. Indoor na kasi ngayon. Sisirain na lang ito. Wala na kasing ganitong size ang ginagamit,” said Tolentino, who also heads the Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines (PhilCycling).
Tolentino, who spoke about this during the weekly show, The Chasedown, explained that the current length of a regular velodrome measures around 250 meters and is built inside an indoor stadium.
The POC chief said PSC chairman William Ramirez has already talked to him about this concern.
Tolentino hopes that a new velodrome will be constructed and incorporated inside a multipurpose venue.
“Yung gitna ng velodrome can be used for other sports like gymnastics. Maraming mapaggagamitan,” said Tolentino.
The last time that the velodrome was seriously used for competition was back in the 2013 when the POC-PSC Philippine National Games was held.
The complex, which was inaugurated in 1966 by then President Ferdinand Marcos, was used back in 2005 as a venue for the Southeast Asian Games.
It was last used four years ago, when national cyclists were still quartered inside the sports complex. They rarely got a chance to practice in the steeply banked oval tracks.
At that time, there were reports that a religious group were allowed to hold prayer rallies in the velodrome thrice a week.
Two years ago, Tolentino was into talks with International Cycling Union president David Lappartient on the construction of a modern velodrome, which could be put up in Tagaytay City or at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac