(WE WIN AS ONE. Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go and House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano pose with athletes at the IAAF-certifi ed New Clark City Athletics Stadium. With them are Cong. Jose “Bong” Teves Jr., Capas Mayor Reynaldo Catacutan, MTD Clark, Inc. chairman Isaac David, POC president Cong. Abraham Tolentino, Cong. Antonio “Tonypet” Albano, Cong. Carlos Cari, BCDA president and CEO Vince Dizon, Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association Inc. secretary general Agapito Capistrano, MTD Clark, Inc. president Engr. Patrick Nicholas David, Cong. Argel Cabatbat, Cong. Irene Saulog, Cong. Faustino Michael Dy and Cong. Anthony Peter “Onyx” Crisologo. Photo courtesy of BCDA Public Affairs)
CLARK FREEPORT — The International Athletics Association Federation (IAAF) and the International Swimming Federation (FINA) have certified the New Clark City Athletics Stadium and Aquatic Center in Capas Tarlac as “Class 1 facilities” for the hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games, (SEA Games) on November 30 to December 11.
Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Bambol Tolentino, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) commissioners Ramon Fernandez and Arnold Agustin reported this in a press conference at the New Clark City the other day, in the presence of visiting guests House Speaker Allan Peter Cayetano and Sen. Christopher Go.
In his remarks, Bases Conversion Development Authority president- CEO Vince Dizon said “It was just a dream before. But because of the Build, Build, Build program of Pres. Duterte, we realized this dream,” as he noted that “the sports facilities, where athletics and aquatics in the SEA Games will be held, were constructed in 18 months.”
Go said that with the construction of these world-class venues, “the Philippines is now ready to produce more worldclass talents who can follow the footsteps of world champions Carlos Yulo of gymnastics, Nesthy Petecio of boxing and Olympic qualifier EJ Obiena of athletics.”
Cayetano and Go also witnessed the groundbreaking ceremony for the Philippine National High School for Sports that is expected to be completed by 2021. The school will be opened to all the students, who aspire to develop their skills as athletes.
“It will be just like the regular high schools. But here, the students will undergo training to determine what sports will they fit in. It will eventually have entrance examinations before the students can enroll,” Cayetano explained.
