PH track athletes to get first crack at SEA Games facilities

Athletics Stadium at New Clark City. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

CAPAS, Tarlac—Philippine track athletes will get an early head start ahead of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games and part of it is giving them a home feel of the New Clark City Athletics Stadium here.

The 2019 SEA Games will start on November 30 and will run until December 11 but the national team tracksters are already expected to be housed in the Athletes’ Village once the Philippine Athletics Track and Filed Association forms the squad.

But they won’t just live in the Athletes’ Village, they’re also entitled to use the two outdoor track ovals and one indoor warm-up course during their stay in the facility that the Bases Conversion and Development Authority built.

BCDA President Vince Dizon and Patafa President Philip Juico discussed the living conditions for the athletes and both agreed that the setup is for the benefit of the national team heading into the regional games.

“Not only will our athletes use the facilities but they would also live in the Athletes’ Village three months prior to the SEA Games,” said Dizon in a press conference during the Patafa Weekly Relay Series Sunday.

“All the things they need will be provided by the Patafa, Phisgoc (Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee), and the BCDA so we can give an advantage to our athletes,” added Dizon.

Patafa Chairman Rufus Rodriguez said the Weekly Relays, happening every Sunday of September, will be used as SEA Games tryouts for the national team.

Arrey Perez, the deputy director for the Athletes’ Village, added that the Athletics Stadium will also house athletes from Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea to test the facilities and also compete against the Filipinos.

“We will be inviting athletes from other nations, not just from Southeast Asia, to test the stadium and also see where our national athletes are in their progress,” said Perez.