4 major SEAG events in Subic

THE scenic Subic Bay Freeport will host four major events in the 23rd Philippine Southeast Asian Games.

The formal designation of the former American base as one of the key venues for the biennial meet set from November 27 to December 5 was announced Thursday at the signing of a memorandum of agreement between Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee chair Roberto Pagdanganan and Subic Bay Freeport officials, led by tourism manager Kenneth Peralta, at the PITC Building in Manila.

Archery, canoe/kayak, sailing and triathlon are the events to be held in the bustling seaport. It also serves as one of the satellite venues, along with Cebu and Bacolod, of the third SEA Games the country is hosting.

Peralta said the Subic Bay Freeport will shoulder all expenses to be incurred by Filipino athletes, officials and technical staff for the duration of the nine-day meet.

Also at the MOA signing were Subic SEA Games coordinating team head Ramon de Leon, International Olympic Committee representative Frank Elizalde, Philippine Olympic Committee chair Robert Aventajado, POC vice president Steve Hontiveros and former POC chief Celso Dayrit.

Subic Freeport chair Francisco Licuanan III was not around during the event but already had his signature affixed in the MOA.

The signing came barely a week after Philsoc reached a similar agreement with the different Metro Manila venues to be used in the SEA Games.

Among the sites were the Ynares Center in Antipolo City and the Ateneo Blue Eagle gym at Katipunan in Quezon City, which will host men’s and women’s basketball; Makati Coliseum (billiards and snooker); Trace Aquatic Center in Los Banos, Laguna (swimming); and Tagaytay City (chess and cycling).

Bacolod will be host to boxing, football, indoor volleyball and weightlifting, while Cebu has seven events—judo, sepak takraw, tae kwon do, karatedo, pencak silat, and dancesports.

The Rizal Memorial Track and Football Stadium will be the site of athletics, considered the centerpiece event.