THE newly-refurbished Philsports Complex in Pasig City and Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila are ready to host events of the 10th Asean Para Games should the New Clark City (NCC) in Capas, Tarlac, which has recently become a quarantine center for repatriated Filipinos amid the coronavirus disease (Covid 19) threat, is not.
Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez bared this during the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum Thursday, February 27, at The Annex or SM City Davao.
The sprawling NCC, which was used for the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games 2019, was earlier set as primary venue of the Para Games that was rescheduled to a still undetermined date as precautionary measure against possible spread of Covid-19.
Ramirez said, “I don’t question the use of NCC as quarantine center. It is for national interest, you can’t question the leadership of the President.
Sports can go ahead anytime. Lives of Filipinos are more vital than playing.”
He, however, said that holding the Para Games in May from March this year might not be feasible as government procurement process would usually take two months.
The PSC Board, Philippine Olympic Committee and other stakeholders will meet for more updates on the Para Games hosting.
“We pray that the coronavirus threat will soon diminish as economies in the world are already being affected,” the PSC chief added.
Meanwhile, other PSC-organized programs that were postponed such as the Philippine National Games, National Sports Summit, Batang Pinoy National Championships currently have no dates yet as the national sports agency continues to monitor the extent of the Covid-19 threat.