Baguio eyed next sports capital of the country

By Redjie Cawis

BAGUIO CITY – This city is being eyed as the next sports capital of the country where world-class athletes could train.

Pambansang Bayaning Atleta (PBA) Party list Representative Mark Sambar said Baguio, with its cool climate and good weather would be a good place for building a new sports complex with complete sports facilities.

He added the city also could be a very good venue for high altitude training grounds since it is where 8th division world champion congressman Manny Pacquiao and the Azkals football team trained before competing internationally.

Sambar during a recent visit here said they are looking for a new training venue for athletes.

This is one of the thrusts of the party list PBA, he said.

Sambar said other sports facilities in the country are now not suitable as training grounds of athletes.

The Rizal Sports Complex, which has always been home to Filipino athletes, is too old and now dilapidated.

Its facilities are not complete and it is not a nice place any more, he said.

He described the area as traffic-prone and polluted. It also became congested through the years. It is not conducive for the use of athletes.

The congressman said it is too bad that the Philippine Azkals Football Team who had home advantage during its previous matches, could hold not games in the country since there are no available football stadiums.

Sambar said when the city will have a sports complex this could be a chance for other national and international athletes to hold trainings and sports events.

Sambar though said he had hesitations with the problem on the accessibility of the Loakan Airport.

Sen. Miguel Zubiri, in his visit to the city a few month ago, also proposed a world-class sports complex to be built in the city to cater to athletes.