PSC chief assures completion of venues

MANILA, Philippines — All but one of the six venues being renovated by the Philippine Sports Commission for use in the 30th Southeast Asian Games set Nov. 30 to Dec. 11 will be finished as scheduled.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez gave the assurance yesterday, saying work at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum is 85 percent complete, and will be finished on Nov. 13 in time for the pep rally for all national team members on the same day.

“We’re renovating a total of 13 facilities at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila and Philsports Complex in Pasig, six of them we volunteered for the SEA Games. It will be opened on Nov. 13 for the pep rally,” said Ramirez, who is also Team Philippines’ chef de mission.

The Rizal Memorial Coliseum will host aerobics, artistic and rhythmic gymnastics where newly-crowned world champion and potential Olympic gold medalist Carlos Edriel “Caloy” Yulo is expected to go for six to seven gold medals.

Also expected to be opened that same week are the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, which will host taekwondo and weightlifting, the Rizal Tennis Center, which is for lawn and soft tennis, and the Philsports Arena in Pasig City, which is for indoor volleyball.

Contractors of the Rizal Memorial Stadium, which is for football, have asked for an extension until Nov. 21.

The intended venue for squash located besides the Ninoy Aquino Stadium is awaiting the arrival of the surface from Germany and will not make it on time.