IN THE first quarter of the year, facilities to get athletes ready for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games and several international competition will most likely be ready.
Around 100 elite athletes will be sent to Iba, Zambales, while 200 more will travel to Baguio to get them in shape.
Philippine Olympic Committee President Jose “Peping” Cojuangco said this following talks with Foreign Affairs secretary and SEA Games Organizing Committee chairman Allan Peter Cayetano and Philippine Sports Commission chairman William “Butch” Ramirez.
“We can start (training athletes) right away,” said Cojuangco.
In March last year, athletes preparing for the 29th SEA Games were sent to the Zambales Sports Complex for the first time to prepare.
“They do have facilities there (in Zambales) that can accommodate a hundred athletes and they can live comfortably,” added Cojuangco
The SEA Games working committee that Cojuangco, Ramirez and Cayetano formed is set to bring in former PSC Chairman Ricardo “Richie” Garcia.
Cojuangco brought up Garcia’s role before Cayetano and Ramirez last month.
Garcia is expected to help in out the organizational and operational aspects of handling the Games.
The role of Makati Congressman and taekwondo association secretary general Monsour del Rosario is also being finalized.
Cojuangco will go into final discussions with Del Rosario if he will be the chef de mission in 2019.