THE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has started refurbishing the facilities at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila and PhilSports Complex in Pasig in preparation for the national athletes’ resumption of training on Jan. 10 next year.
PSC commissioner Ramon Fernandez yesterday said they have started renovations after the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) gave its stamp of approval to start preparation for the national team seeing action in the Hanoi Southeast Asian and Hangzhou Asian Games next year.
“All these facilities will be ready by Jan. 10,” said Mr. Fernandez, who is also the country’s chef de mission for the Hanoi Games.
Mr. Fernandez said there is a strong chance the IATF may also transfer its coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) facilities at the Rizal and PhilSports to other places including the nearby Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) to make it safer for athletes and coaches.
Mr. Fernandez said they would strictly implement a “no vaccine, no entry” policy when training unfurls.
Mr. Fernandez said he would sit down with Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham Tolentino to discuss their SEA Games battle plan.
The national pool members were left homeless after the Manila and Pasig facilities were closed down in March last year for the use of the national government during the pandemic.
And after almost two years of waiting, the Nationals can now start face-to-face training soon. — Joey Villar