INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines - This might appear ambitious and unrealistic but the idea of hosting the 2014 Asian Games sounds good just the same.

The Philippine Olympic Committee is determined to take the long shot of bringing Asia's continental version of the Olympics on local soil when it begins to draw the blueprint for the national training center in Tarlac province.

"Hosting the Asian Games is the main target,'' said POC president Jose ``Peping'' Cojuangco Jr., who committed to donate five hectares of the vast 6,400-hectare Hacienda Luisita owned by the Cojuangcos for the projected billion-peso training center.

Cojuangco said the design and layout would commence within the week, a plan which he hopes could meet the standards of the Olympic Council of Asia, the organization that awards the hosting of the Asian Games.

"I will meet the architect this week to finalize the details of the training center,'' said Cojuangco. ``We will work on the details until the final phase so we could start the construction right away.''

The POC has received a pledge from the OCA to fund the development plan worth $50,000 or roughly P2.4 million.

Cojuangco said OCA president Ahmad Al-Fahad made the commitment during their meeting at the OCA headquarters in Kuwait a few months ago.

Once the development plan has been mapped out, Cojuangco said the POC would come up with a proposed budget for the construction of the NTC before the International Olympic Committee.

Cojuangco met the IOC top brass twice this year with IOC president Jacques Rogge and IOC director on NOC (national olympic committee) relations Pere Miro reportedly giving the assurance to help finance the highly-expensive NTC.

"Everything will take off within the week. It will be the POC’s main concern aside from the preparation for the SEA (Southeast Asian Games) Games,'' said Cojuangco.

The idea of hosting the Asiad in 2014 was first broached by Philippine Sports Commission chair Harry Angping five months ago during a key visit on several training facilities in China.

Angping said the PSC could spruce up the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex by turning the 70-year-old sports facility into an ultra-modern training center for the Philippines to host continental and global competitions.

"Maybe the POC could take the lead. Once we begin the blueprint, the project will definitely push through as planned,'' said Cojuangco.

Aside from building a state-of-the-art training and competition facility for the Asian Games, the NTC will include billeting centers and an athletes' village designed to accommodate other international events like the Southeast Asian Games.

Cojuangco said a housing project for retired athletes and a two-hectare field for planting crops would form part of the NTC blueprint.

"It could be another good source of income after their careers are over. I will ask the architect to devote at least two hectares where retired athletes could plant rice and other crops,'' said Cojuangco.

The POC initially planned to build the NTC at the government-owned Clark Field in Pampanga but later on decided against it.