Proposed sports facility ideal for Asian teams

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

NEW YORK – Top trade and investment officials here believe that the proposed sports training and recreation facility will be ideal for practices of Asian baseball teams during their winter off-season breaks.

Eugene Elevado, Philippine Trade representative based here, said the Clark STAR (Sports Training, Amusement and Recreation Center) that is being planned at Clark Freeport will be good for baseball training camps.

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“Particularly for Japanese and Korean teams that have their own major leagues in their countries, Clark STAR will be a good training venue during their winter times,” Elevado said.

With his previous assignment in Japan where he has followed the major and minor leagues there, Elevado said Clark will be a good alternative to other warm cities and countries for baseball practice during the winter.

He said professional Japanese teams invest so much in training by sending them to as far as Hawaii for off-season practice.

“The Clark STAR could serve as a very good alternative given its concept to have dormitories and other support facilities for players and athletes. Some of them even tow their families with them,” Elevado said.

Elevado also noted the huge potentials of Clark STAR for jobs generation.
“In baseball training alone, a lot of the locals could be hired as outer field catchers. Training is not only good for athletes but also for those who will be hired in the process,” Elevado said.

Clark STAR is a brainchild of Clark Development Corporation (CDC) president Felipe Antonio B. Remollo. It is being proposed by CDC to rise in a 200-hectare land at the Northeast tip of Clark, between Mabalacat and the Sacobia River.

Aside from having sports academy and dormitories for athletes, it will have various stadia for indoor games, field events, and aquatic sports.
It will also feature a commercial complex, exhibit halls, convention center, promenade, central park, public transport terminal and a monorail link system around the facility.

Remollo said Clark STAR is also being presented to National Sports Associations. It has initially been presented to the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission.

Once fully developed, Clark STAR could serve as a replacement to the current training facilities for Filipino athletes that include the dilapidated Rizal Memorial Complex in Metro Manila.