Zambales Sports Complex to serve as training center for SEA Games-bound athletes

The Zambales Sports Complex will serve as a high-performance training center for national athletes who will compete in the forthcoming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. 

This was finalized recently with the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and Zambales Governor Amor Deloso.

“The province of Zambales will host the national athletes by allowing exclusive use and administration of the Zambales Sports Complex by the Philippine Olympic Committee. It shall appoint the coordinator/administrator for this purpose,” said the MOA, which was signed in the presence of former International Olympic Committee Representative to the Philippines Frank Elizalde, POC Secretary General Steve Hontiveros, and gymnastics association president Cynthia Carrion, who is the chef de mission of the Philippine delegation to the SEA Games, set for August 19 to 31 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Cojuangco was impressed with the well-maintained facilities inside the Zambales Sports Complex when he visited it last December.

The POC chief, who was given another four-year term last November, wants to provide Filipino athletes the best training facilities that would boost their performance in international competitions.

The sprawling sports complex in the capital town of Iba features a rubberized track oval, an Olympic-size swimming pool, football field, two tennis courts, a multipurpose gymnasium, and a four-story dormitory/hotel.

The dormitory/hotel has 64 rooms. Each room has a toilet and can accommodate three to four athletes.

The MOA also said “the host allows the POC to use the dormitory, the conference hall, kitchen and dining area at the ground floor. Subsidize the utility bills, such as (for) water and electricity for the use of the national athletes. Ensure the safety and well-being of the national athletes through the necessary security measures installed at the complex throughout the life of this agreement.”

“We really love to host our national athletes in line of our objective to boost tourism in the province. And collaborate with the POC in the sharing and transfer of sports science and technical training to the local coaches and trainers for sports development program of our province,” said the Zambales governor. PNA