Newly-finished New Clark City Aquatic Center in Capas Tarlac. (PNA Photo by Jess Escaros)
CAPAS, Tarlac -- Philippine Swimming Inc. (PSI) president Lani Velasco said not only local but foreign swimmers can use the modern Aquatic Center of the newly-finished New Clark City sports complex in their preparation for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
"Because it's a FINA-accredited pool, it can be the training ground for all European and US-based swimmers who are preparing for the Tokyo Olympics," Velasco said during the press conference for the Philippine National Open Swimming Championship on Saturday (Aug. 31) here.
He said the proximity of the Philippines from Japan makes the world-class venue a good place for swimmers who want to gear up for Tokyo Olympiad.
At present, the PSI is holding the first National Open Swimming Championships at the NCC’s 2000-seater Aquatics Center.
The NCC sports complex will serve as the main venue of the 30th Southeast Asian Games and the Asean Para Games which the country will host for the fourth time later this year.
"Meron na tayong (We have already) scheduled hosting of SCUAA (State College and University Athletic Association) come February. Yung (The) state colleges and universities ng (of) Central Luzon [will join]," Capas Mayor Rey Catacutan said.
Aside from the aquatic center, the 50-hectare NCC sports complex includes a modern 20,000-seater athletics stadium where a three-day Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) qualifying tournament for SEA Games will be held beginning on Sunday (September 1).
The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) also built 525-bedroom athletes’ village and 1.4-kilometer river park inside the NCC sports hub, the country’s first modern sports complex in over eight decades.
Earlier, BCDA President and CEO Vince Dizon said the NCC will serve as the perfect venue for the National Academy of Sports which is being proposed by Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go.
New Clark City Phase 1A, one of the flagship projects under the Duterte administration's “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program, is set to be inaugurated by President Rodrigo Duterte in November. (PNA)
