(WE WIN AS ONE. (L-R) 2017 SEAGames silver medalist Rambo Chicano, MTD Clark president Nikko David, Senator Pia Cayetano, BCDA president Vince Dizon, 2017 SEAGames Gold medalist Nikko Huelgas, Robinsons Land Corp assistant marketing director Kristynne Tan and Go Clark Sports & Events director Jumbo Tayag. Photo by Joann M. Valenciano)
CAPAS, Tarlac – The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) will spearhead the first ever New Clark City (NCC) Triathlon 2019 together with Go Clark Sports and Events on October 19 – 20 at the NCC’s sports complex here as announced during its grand launching and press conference held on Friday.
The NCC Triathlon 2019 is to test the newly built sports facilities of the NCC before the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and the 2020 ASEAN Paralympic Games.
The event will be an introduction to promote Clark as one of the country’s premier sports destinations. It will also serve as a send-off for the national triathletes who will compete at the biennial games.
Hundreds of athletes and participants are expected to join the first triathlon event. As such there will also be a 5K Fun Run and Kids’ Triathlon which is open for children aged 8 – 14 years old.
Finisher medals, event shirts, and post-race meals are some of the inclusions that are included in the race kit upon registration.
The participants will have a chance to be one of the first to use NCC’s world-class and modern facilities like the athletic stadium, aquatic center and track oval.
Senator and triathlete Pia Cayeta no expressed her excitement and confidence during the press conference that this will bring opportunity and inspiration for our national athletes.
“If you are in the right environment you can perform better than you normally would. And with the personal influence around, from coaches and teammates and you see other athletes training with you and with a beautiful facility like this, the opportunity to excel are present and you can perform better,” said Cayetano.
House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, chairman of the Philippine SEA Games organizing committee inspected the NCC sports complex briefly before leaving for a budget meeting.
Cayetano said, the “SEA Games is meant to honor our athletes and to restart and reignite the passion for sports in our country.”
Also present at the press conference were national triathlon athletes 2017 SEA Games gold medalist Nikko Huelgas and 2017 SEA Games silver medalist Rambo Chicano. Both expressed their appreciation and anticipation for the upcoming triathlon event and the 2019 SEA Games.
TV host and athlete Gretchen Ho was also at the press conference. She will join the triathlon under the relay category for the first time.
“Mas excited akong masubukan ung facilities dito. It’s a privilege to be a part of this first event that will be held here,” said Ho. “I’m very, very happy that Philippine Sports is getting the attention it deserves.”
Meanwhile, BCDA president/CEO Vince Dizon announced that the Aquatic Center has recently acquired the Federation Internationale de Natation (FINA) Certification, an international governing body recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
In another development, the first access road from SCTEx will open by end of October for the 2019 SEA Games. The second access road will be completed by 2020.
Go Clark Sports and Events is an organization that promotes health and wellness through endurance and multisport events.
To register for the NCC Triathlon 2019 and to know more about the race and other details, check Go Clark’s Facebook page or visit their website at www.goclark.ph. Registration for the Triathlon is open from August 12 to October 8.
