New Clark City Sports Hub

The New Clark City Sports Hub[2] or the New Clark City Sports Complex[3] (initially known as the Philippine Sports City or Philippine Olympic City) is a complex of sport facilities located inside the vicinity of the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac. The 50-hectare complex is one of the venues of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

Not to be confused with Clark International Sports Complex.
New Clark City Sports Hub
Aerial view
Former namesPhilippine Sports City
Philippine Olympic City
LocationNational Government Administrative Center, New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac, Philippines
Coordinates15°20′36.9″N 120°31′53.2″E
Main venueAthletics Stadium
Capacity: 20,000
Other sports facilitiesAquatics Center, Athletes Village, National Sports Training Center
OwnerBases Conversion and Development Authority[1]
Construction
Broke groundApril 25, 2018
Construction cost₱3 billion–₱6 billion (estimate)
ArchitectBudji + Royal Architecture + Design
Structural engineerAECOM
Main contractorsMTD Philippines

History

Development

Before the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippine Olympic Committee had previous plans to put up a national training center outside Metro Manila but talks to establish such facility did not have any significant progress. Duterte personally directed Philippine Sports Commission head, William Ramirez to "take the lead" leading to Ramirez having talks with Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea about plans for a replacement of the old Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.[4]

After the silver medal finish by Filipino weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the PSC bared plans to build the "Philippine Olympic City" at New Clark City.

Ramirez said that the sports hub, which will house national athletes and sports facilities, will be one of the primary attractions at the New Clark City, then named Clark Green City, and could be a possible main venue of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games which will be hosted by the country. Ramirez said that he hopes that the sports complex will be open by 2018.[5] The sports complex will have the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) as the primary involved body in its construction following a meeting between the PSC Board and BCDA president Vince Dizon.[4]

The Philippine Sports Commission estimated that the project will cost between ₱3 billion to ₱6 billion. A ₱1 billion savings from the PSC could be used to partly finance the construction by the BCDA, a GOCC that developed the Clark and Subic as well as Villamor Air Base and Fort Bonifacio.[4]

Construction
Installation of the composite columns of the Athletics Stadium. (July 2018)

Groundbreaking for the National Government Administrative Center (NGAC) as a whole was held on January 23, 2018[6] and actual construction started on March 15, 2018.[7] The New Clark City Sports Hub forms a significant portion of the Phase 1A of the larger mixed-used government complex's development.[6] Construction of the sports complex itself began on April 25, 2018 which was marked by a cement-pouring ceremony.[8] Around 8,000 people were employed for the project with construction work done continuously or 24 hours a day, seven days a week.[7]

The whole Phase 1A of the NGAC is targeted to be completed by October 2019.[9] As of October 2018, the sports complex is already 30 percent complete.[10] By November 2018, the projected completion of the sports complex was moved earlier to August 2019 with test events planned to be held at the venue from August to October 2019.[3]

Following the 2019 Luzon earthquake, no damage was reported on the site of the sport's complex construction.[11] By June 2019, the facility was 85 to 88 percent complete with most of the remaining work involved the area's landscaping.[12]

The sports complex was 90 percent complete by July 2019 with the Athletics Stadium and Aquatic Center and was set to be completed by the end of August 2019.[13]

Preparation
Final leg of the PATAFA weekly relay.
Swimmers competing at the 2019 Philippine Swimming National Open.

The stadium was first used to host the final leg of the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association weekly relay which was held on September 1, 2019[14][15] and the aquatic center for the 2019 Philippine Swimming National Open which began on August 31, 2019.[16][15] Both events were qualifiers for Filipino athletes aiming to compete for their country in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

In the weekend of October 19 and October 20, 2019,[17] the triathlon race event was held for the first time at the sports complex.[18]

On October 26 and 27, 2019, the sports complex also held the test event of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.[19]

Future

The BCDA announced its plans to construct additional sports facilities such as an indoor arena that can host indoor events such as basketball, as well as a lot reserved for outdoor sports such as shooting in a six-hectare area.[20] It also announced plans to build other sports facilities for football, tennis, and cycling.[15]

BCDA president Vince Dizon stated that the sports complex will privatize its maintenance and operations right after the SEA Games. Dizon explained that they wanted to privatize it to make the complex being well taken care of unlike being a government-run that became detoriated. To avoid becoming a "white elephant", they follow the success stories of other world-class sports facilities (such as Singapore Sports Hub in Singapore, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London and Sydney Olympic Park in Sydney).[21] They also planned to turn the complex into a multi-purpose, similar to what London and Sydney did after their hosting of Summer Olympic Games respectively.[21]

The sports complex will serve as the permanent home of the Filipino athletes and to be facilitated by the Philippine Sports Commission.[22]

Architecture and design
The New Clark City Sports Hub.

Local architecture firm, Budji + Royal Architecture + Design, were commissioned by the Bases Conversion Development Authority to work on the New Clark City Sports Hub. The firm will be collaborating with American urban planner and engineering firm AECOM. Architect Royal Pineda and interior designer Budji Layug of Budji + Royal are involved in the sports complex project. The design of the complex was inspired from the parol, a Filipino Christmas lantern.[23] Most structures within the complex has a dark gray lahar finish as nod to the nearby Mount Pinatubo, a volcano.[24]

Surbana Jurong, a Singaporean firm, also did consultation work regarding the design of the facilities. The sports complex was modeled by the firm after the Singapore Sports Hub.[25]

Athletics Stadium
The athletics stadium.
Main article: New Clark City Athletics Stadium

The main stadium, which had its design was derived from Mount Pinatubo, will had its posts and facade made from lahar or volcanic debris from the volcano. Its ringed roofline will be made to resemble a crater and be defined by a series of curving canopies. The main facade or the main entrance will be ornated with glassframes.[23] The stadium's pillars are painted orange to represent the local sunset.[24]

Aquatics Center
The aquatics center.
Main article: New Clark City Aquatics Center

The Aquatics Center's design will consist of a huge open shed with a prismatic roof similar to a parol made of capiz coating.[23] The roofing will be made from polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a fiberglass material used for its lightweight property, durability, and weather resistance. The architects intends to cover the facility but still let natural light into its interior. At daytime, the architects intended the roof to resemble capiz windows used by old Philippine houses and at night the roof will be illuminated to resemble a lit parol.[26] The venue will host two swimming pools, a 10-lane Olympic pool and an 8-lane training pool.[24]

Facilities

Sports venues
Venue Purpose Seating capacity Year built
Athletics Stadium Multi-use, primarily track and field (athletics) and football 20,000 2019
Aquatics Center Aquatics sports venue 2,000 2019
Athletics Warm-up Track Oval Track and field (athletics) training facility N/A 2019

Other facilities
The Government Residences (front) and the Athletes Village (left)
Venue Purpose Year built Notes
Athletes Village Accommodation spaces for athletes and officials participating in competitions, conference venue 2019 525 rooms.[27]
National River Park Corridor Park and leisure space 2019[28] Covers 1.4 kilometres (0.87 mi) and consists of jogging paths, bikeways, open amphitheaters, and designated public areas for exercises such as yoga and zumba.[27]

Events

The sports complex was used for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

List of sporting events held
Sporting events at the NGAC Sports Complex
Date Event name Facilities Organizations Ref
October 18–20, 2019 New Clark City Triathlon Aquatics Center and Athletics Stadium Go Clark and BCDA [29][30]
November 30 - December 11, 2019 30th South East Asian Games Aquatics Center and Athletics Stadium Southeast Asian Games Federation [31][32]
February 3–8, 2020 State Colleges and Universities Athletics Association (SCUAA) III Olympics Aquatics Center and Athletics Stadium State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association [33]
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See also

References
  1. Legaspi, Amita (14 November 2019). "Questions on post-SEA Games upkeep cause Senate to recall nod on BCDA budget". GMA News. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  2. "New Clark City Sports Hub". AlloyMTD Philippines. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  3. Terrado, Reuben (23 November 2018). "Brand-new stadium for 2019 SEA Games hosting is taking shape". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  4. Giongco, Nick (2016). PSC, BCDA get cozy over sports center. Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  5. Badua, Snow (2016). PSC bares plan to construct multi-billion peso 'Philippine Olympic City' at Clark. Spin.ph. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  6. Datu, Carlo Lorenzo (23 January 2018). "Construction of National Government Administrative Center in New Clark City begins". Philippine Information Agency. Philippine Information Agency. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  7. "New Clark City ready for SEA Games in November". Manila Bulletin. 19 June 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  8. Saldajeno, Ivan (25 April 2018). "BCDA begins pouring cement on New Clark City athletic field". Dugout Philippines. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  9. Terrado, Reuben (25 April 2018). "New Clark City Sports Complex expected to be completed in time for 2019 SEA Games". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  10. "Video". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2020-07-26.
  11. "No damage in SEA Games venues, says BCDA". ABS-CBN News. 23 April 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  12. "Builder targets August completion for constructing New Clark facilities". ABS-CBN News. 21 June 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  13. Musico, Jelly (20 July 2019). "PRRD to inaugurate New Clark City sports complex in November". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  14. Mostoles, Trisha (1 September 2019). "Pinoy athletes try out SEA Games facilities in New Clark City". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  15. Datu, Carlo Lorenzo J. (31 August 2019). "New Clark City hosts SEA Games pre-qualifying competitions". Philippine Information Agency. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  16. Matel, Philip (31 August 2019). "Brand-new Aquatics Stadium hosts national swimming championships". ESPN. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  17. "New Clark City to test facilities with triathlon race". Rappler. 13 August 2019. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  18. "New Clark City hosts inaugural triathlon". CNN Philippines. 20 October 2019. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  19. "PH athletics picks up 3 golds in 2019 SEA Games test event". Rappler. 28 October 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  20. Terrado, Reuben (11 May 2018). "Builders promise world-class facilities at New Clark City for 2019 SEA Games. Look". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  21. Torres, Judith; Mata, Denny (13 August 2019). "BCDA Pres tackles USD 5 billion New Clark City, white elephants". BluPrint. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  22. "PHOTOS: The Philippines' Newest Sports Complex Is Ready for SEA Games 2019". SPOT.ph. 7 September 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2019. When asked what will become of the New Clark City Sports Hub as soon as the SEA Games is over, the MTD Philippines chairman confirmed that it will be "the permanent home of our Philippine athletes" and facilitated by the Philippine Sports Commission.
  23. Enriquez, Marge (3 January 2018). "Design duo tapped to build 'city of the future'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  24. Luz Lopez, Melissa (14 June 2019). "Clark stadium, pools for SEA Games completed by August". CNN Philippines. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  25. Dancel, Raul (20 July 2019). "Main venue for SEA Games in November mostly complete, say Philippine officials". The Strait Times. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  26. Remo, Amy (17 February 2018). "Rise of the new city". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  27. "Clark facilities for SEAG get good rating". The Philippine Star. 26 November 2018. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  28. Torres, Judith; Mata, Denny (13 August 2019). "BCDA Pres tackles USD 5 billion New Clark City, white elephants". BluPrint. Retrieved 31 August 2019. ...the first thing that was developed and completed was the River Park.
  29. News, Trisha Mostoles, ABS-CBN. "Thousands of athletes participate in first-ever triathlon in New Clark City". ABS-CBN News.
  31. "30th SEA Games officially closes in New Clark City". GMA News.
  32. Sambatyon, Eldan (December 5, 2019). "SEA Games athletes praise Athletes' Village facilities, food in New Clark City".
  33. "SCUAA III Olympics opens in New Clark City". Philippine Information Agency.
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