Four bubbles for SEA Games preparations

Team Philippines will assemble four training bubbles when the country’s preparations for the 31st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games go into full gear.

Consider the magnitude: A rough estimate of over 250 athletes from 38 sports apart from coaches, medical personnel and other staff scattered in at least four venues with the necessary facilities.

Team Philippines chef de mission Ramon Fernandez said the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila, the Philsports Complex in Pasig City and the Teachers Camp in Baguio City have been eyed to host training bubbles.

“We need these venues, so our athletes can begin training. For most of them, it’s almost been a year since they last set foot on these facilities,’’ said Fernandez.

The athletics stadium and aquatics center inside New Clark City (NCC) in Capas, Tarlac, has likewise been identified as a bubble.

“They are very willing to make the place available for our national athletes,’’ said Fernandez after his meeting with Bases Conversion and Development Authority president and chief executive officer Vince Dizon and vice president Arrey Perez, the village mayor of NCC. According to Fernandez, who also functions as Philippine Sports Commission commissioner, the target is to inflate the bubbles by April 1, a week after the March 23 deadline for submission of entries by number to the Games set by host Vietnam.

“We’ll discuss the budget once we know the number of athletes,’’ said Fernandez.