PSC prepares facilities for Team Philippines

THE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) is harnessing back the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RMSC) and Philsports Complex to their spruced functions for the use of national athletes preparing for international competitions.

PSC Chairman Noli Eala said the agency is “full steam ahead” in ensuring that the agency delivers services to the national team and grassroots partners, including preparing facilities for training and competitions.

“We’re excited to see the national athletes back in training in these facilities,” Eala said.

The Rizal Memorial Coliseum and Ninoy Aquino Stadium (NAS) are undergoing repairs after serving as government quarantine facilities and medical centers for Covid-19 patients in 2020.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines managed the facilities during the pandemic and has returned control of the facilities to the PSC last July 19.

The baseball and softball stadium, tennis center, swimming and diving pools, wushu and wrestling gyms and billiards, snooker and judo halls are currently being used by national athletes. The newly-constructed squash center is now also open for athletes

The athletics and football stadium is currently hosting the games of the Philippine Football Federation-sanctioned Philippine Football League which will run until October.

The badminton hall and table tennis center are also up for rehabilitation. The NAS, on the other hand, will be available on October 1.

The Philippine National Police also used the Philsports’ Multi-purpose Arena into a quarantine facility but has returned control to the PSC last June. The fencing hall, swimming pool and athletics and football field are now operational, and so are the second floor dining hall that kurash and karatedo teams share as a training facility.

Members of the national athletics and fencing teams are billeted at the Philsports dormitories.

Eala assured that health and safety protocols are being observed in all facilities and will continue to be in place.