The proposed multi-purpose center, according to Union Cycliste Internationale president Hein Verbruggen, can also be used by other sports like athletics and gymnastics. China and Japan have already built their own training centers that explains why they are far ahead from other Asian countries.
Verbruggen, who heads UCI for the past 14 years, gave the city southwest of Manila the green light because of its ideal weather. The center will specifically cater to the needs of riders from the Southeast and South Asian regions upon the recommendation of the Philippine Cycling Federation.
The UCI top honcho, the first international federation president to visit the country, had actually looked into five sites chosen by Tagaytay City Mayor Bambol Tolentino during an inspection yesterday, a day after arriving to the country.
Aside from its almost perfect weather and strategic location, the UCI head said the country has also a rich history in cycling.
The 64-year-old Verbruggen, who was accompanied to the press conference by Philcycling president and Customs Commissioner Bert Lina, also cited his closeness to International Olympic Committee representative to the Philippines Frank Elizalde as one of the reasons why Tagaytay earned the nod of UCI.
The center is patterned after the world training center in Switzerland, which, likewise served as the model in the establishment of similar centers UCI built in several parts of Europe, Africa and the United States.
"All the training centers we built in those areas proved to be successful in UCI’s program in developing cycling and I cannot see any reason why it cannot be successful here. Proof of our success in bringing cycling to a high level in those areas is the emergence of world champions from the Pan American countries, China, Japan and even Africa," Verbruggen, who is a member of the IOC management board, disclosed.
Barring any hitches, the center, the first in any sports to rise in the country will be completed in two to three years. It will have a velodrome, a track oval, multi-purpose gyms and athletes quarter.
"Mapapagtulungan na natin ito para maitayo. Malaking bagay itong center na ito hindi lamang sa cycling kundi maging sa ibang sports, " said Lina when asked about how the project will be funded. "While UIC will be shouldering part of the budgetary needs, we also have to contribute. "
