LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — Some 40 members of the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa), who will represent the country to the 2019 South East Asian (SEA) Games, will undergo vigorous training at the Narciso Ramos Sports Complex here starting this month.
Provincial Sports Development and Management Council (PSDMC) Executive Director Modesto Operania said the province welcomes the Patafa members, who will use the sports complex for at least six months for their training.
“They will be preparing for the SEA Games and Governor Amado Espino III fully supports athletes,” Operania said in an interview Thursday.
As one of the biggest sports complex in the country, the Narciso sports complex was chosen by Patafa officials as the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) closed the athletes’ quarters and track ovals at Baguio, as well as the Philippine Sports Complex in Pasig and Rizal Memorial Sports Complex for scheduled rehabilitation.
Operania further said the province’s sports complex can fully accommodate the tracksters with its wide oval and complete facilities, including the security contingency plan.
Since Pangasinense athletes also train and other events are being held at the sports complex, Operania assured that the schedules of trainings of tracksters and other athletes will not be affected.
Before the SEA Games on Nov. 30 to Dec. 11 in the country, the Patafa will compete in March in the National Athletics Championships and Asian Youth Championships in Ilagan, Isabela; and on April at the Asian Championships in Doha, Qatar.
