2019 SEA Games to be fanned out in venues, says Ramirez
Chances are slim that a new sports complex will be built for the Philippine hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
Though the Philippine Sports Commission has already identified a possible site at Clark Green City in Pampanga, PSC chair Butch Ramirez yesterday admitted it would be difficult to put up one big venue in time for the Games.
Instead, Ramirez floated the possibility of holding the opening and closing ceremonies of the 11-nation multisport meet at the Philippine Arena, the sprawling sports facility owned by the Iglesia Ni Cristo in Bocaue, Bulacan.
Article continues after this advertisement“We haven’t discussed it with the POC (Philippine Olympic Committee) yet, but we’re already looking for possible venues where the Games can be held,” said Ramirez, who want to make sure that the sale of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, if ever, won’t hinder the preparation of national athletes for the biennial meet slated in August.
POC 1st vice president Joey Romasanta said they would begin forming the organizing committee for the SEA Games early next year to start the ball rolling. He added they should also observe how Kuala Lumpur will run the Games next year.
According to Ramirez, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority has allocated 100 hectares at Clark, with half of the property intended to house the sports facilities while the rest will be devoted to a housing project for the athletes.
Article continues after this advertisement“We can probably build the aquatics center and a multipurpose gym for the 2019 SEA Games but we cannot host all the sports there,” said Ramirez.
Apart from the facilities at the Philippine Arena, the SMX convention center at Mall of Asia and MOA Arena could be tapped for boxing, martial arts and some of the indoor sports.
The provincial government of Davao del Norte has also offered the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex in Tagum City as possible venues for at least five sports.
“We only have eight months to go before SEA Games,” said Ramirez. “We can’t go through with it without fixing things like dormitories for the athletes who are preparing for competition.”
