THE PHILIPPINE Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Philsoc) isset to finalize next month the venues to be used for the biennial meet on Nov. 27 to Dec. 5.
Philsoc sports operations committee chairman Richie Garcia said some venues have been changed because of the additional events in the SEAG calendar. The SEAG Federation Council approved 53 more events during last month’s meeting, bringing to 441 the total number of gold medals at stake.
Garcia, a former Philippine Sports Commissioner, also said that the Philsoc is trying to look for venues which can be availed free of charge and of international standards.
"The good thing about the venues which will be used for the SEAG is that these are free of charge and are of international standards, which is a must. We will not be spending a single centavo for rentals," said Garcia.
The men’s basketball event was moved to the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City because the PhilSports Arena (formerly ULTRA) in Pasig will be used for badminton, which now has seven events instead of five. The women’s basketball will be held at the Makati Coliseum.
Gymnastics, which was previously scheduled at the Jai-Alai Fronton in Malate, will now be played at the San Beda Gym in Alabang.
The Ninoy Aquino Stadium, which was constructed during the Gintong Alay in 1980s, was the first choice for the gymnastics but the Philsoc dropped the idea after learning that the renovation of the gymnasium will cost around
R40 million.
Golf will now be held at The Country Club in Laguna instead of the Riviera Country Club in Cavite.
Equestrian was moved to the Eastridge Golf and Country Club in Binangonan, Rizal from the Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club in Lipa City, Batangas. It was the fourth time that the sport had been transferred from the original venue of Manila Polo Club in Makati City then to San Lazaro Leisure Park in Batangas.
Cycling’s criterium races, which was scheduled at the Subic Bay Freeport in Olongapo City, has been transferred to Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park while the canoe-kayak will be held at Subic Bay Freeport Zone instead of La Mesa dam in Quezon City.
"Hopefully, we can finalize the venues because we have to inform the other countries the soonest possible time," said Garcia. "The national sports associations were also consulted with regards to the venues which have to meet international standards."
Other venues tapped are Trace College in Los Banos, Laguna (swimming, diving and water polo), Remy Field in Olongapo City (baseball), Subic Bay Freeport Zone (triathlon and sailing), Rosario Sports Complex in Pasig (softball), Tagaytay Convention Center (chess) and Hidden Vale Resort in Angeles City (lawn bowls and petanque),
Outside of Luzon, the other satellite venues are located in Cebu and Bacolod. To be held in Cebu are dancesport and judo (Waterfront Hotel Lahug), pencak silat (Mandaue Sports Center), sepak takraw (University of San Carlos Gym), and taekwondo (Cebu Coliseum) .
Bacolod, on the other hand, will host men’s and women’s football (Paglaum and Panaad Sports Complex), indoor volleyball (Negros Occidental Activity Center), beach volleyball and boxing (University of St. La Salle grounds) and weightlifting (Bacolod Convention Center).
