New Clark City Sports Hub

(Redirected from NGAC sports complex)

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 sports facilities located inside the National Government Administrative Center of New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.[4]

New Clark City Sports Hub
Aerial view
Full nameNational Government Administrative Center Sports Complex
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 / 15.343583°N 120.531444°E / 15.343583; 120.531444
Main venueAthletics Stadium
Capacity: 20,000
Other sports facilitiesAquatic 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
Website
newclark.ph (BCDA)

History edit

Development edit

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 in 2016 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.[5] There was also an earlier plan in the 2000s to build a sports complex called the Philippine Olympic City in the Clark area, which was intended to be used as a venue for the 2005 Southeast Asian Games.[6]

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 would house national athletes and sports facilities, would be one of the primary attractions at the New Clark City, then still known as Clark Green City, and could be a possible main venue of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games which would be hosted by the country. Ramirez at that time projected that the sports complex would be open by 2018.[7] The sports complex would 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.[5]

The Philippine Sports Commission estimated that the project would 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.[5]

Construction edit

 
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[8] and actual construction started on March 15, 2018.[9] The New Clark City Sports Hub forms a significant portion of the Phase 1A of the larger mixed-used government complex's development.[8] Construction of the sports complex itself began on April 25, 2018, which was marked by a cement-pouring ceremony.[10] Around 8,000 people were employed for the project with construction work done continuously or 24 hours a day, seven days a week.[9]

The whole Phase 1A of the NGAC is targeted to be completed by October 2019.[11] As of October 2018, the sports complex is already 30 percent complete.[12] 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.[13] By June 2019, the facility was 85 to 88 percent complete with most of the remaining work involved the area's landscaping.[14]

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.[15]

Preparation edit

 
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[16][17] and the aquatic center for the 2019 Philippine Swimming National Open which began on August 31, 2019.[18][17] 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,[19] the triathlon race event was held for the first time at the sports complex.[20]

On October 26 and 27, 2019, the sports complex also held the test event of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.[21]

Future edit

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.[22] It also announced plans to build other sports facilities for football, tennis, and cycling.[17]

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 deteriorated. 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).[23] 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.[23]

The sports complex will serve as the permanent home of the Filipino athletes and to be facilitated by the Philippine Sports Commission.[24]

Architecture and design edit

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 collaborated 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.[25] Most structures within the complex has a dark gray lahar finish as nod to the nearby Mount Pinatubo, a volcano.[26]

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.[27]

Athletics Stadium edit

 
The athletics stadium.

The main stadium, which had its design was derived from Mount Pinatubo, had its posts and facade made from lahar or volcanic debris from the volcano. Its ringed roofline was made to resemble a crater and be defined by a series of curving canopies. The main facade or the main entrance is covered by glassframes.[25] The stadium's pillars are painted orange to represent the local sunset.[26]

Aquatic Center edit

 
The aquatics center.

The Aquatic Center's design consist of a huge open shed with a prismatic roof similar to a parol made of capiz coating.[25] The roofing is 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 has illumination designed to make the structure resemble a lit parol.[28] The venue which hosts two swimming pools, a 10-lane Olympic pool and an 8-lane training pool.[26] The 2,000-seater Aquatic Centre, which hosted the swimming, diving, and water polo competitions of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, was built to be fully compliant with the global standards set by international aquatic governing body Fédération internationale de natation.[29]

Facilities edit

Sports venues edit

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

Other facilities edit

 
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.[30]
National River Park Corridor Park and leisure space 2019[31] 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.[30]

Tenants edit

The New Clark City Sports Hub is located inside the National Government Administrative Center (NGAC) which also contains government buildings, government residences, a polyclinic and a commercial center. Located just across the NGAC, is the main campus of the National Academy of Sports which will complement the sporting facilities. It is expected to open in August 2021.[32]

Events edit

The New Clark City Sports Hub has hosted major sporting competition from sports organizations, private entities and government agencies.

Sporting events at the NGAC Sports Complex
Date Event name Facilities Organizations Ref
2019
August 31–September 3, 2019 1st Philippine National Open Swimming Championships Aquatics Center Philippine Swimming, Inc. [33]
September 1,22 and 29, 2019 PATAFA Weekly Relay Series Athletics Stadium Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association [34]
October 18–20, 2019 New Clark City Triathlon Aquatics Center and Athletics Stadium Go Clark and Bases Conversion and Development Authority [35][36]
November 30 - December 11, 2019 2019 Southeast Asian Games Aquatics Center and Athletics Stadium Southeast Asian Games Federation [37][38]
2020
February 3–8, 2020 State Colleges and Universities Athletics Association (SCUAA) III Olympics Aquatics Center and Athletics Stadium State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association [39]
2021
October 22–24, 2021 2021 Philippine Swimming Inc. National Selection Bubble Aquatics Center Philippine Swimming, Inc. [40]
2022
March 26–27, 2022 2022 FINIS Short Course Swim Competition Series – Luzon leg Aquatics Center FINIS Philippines [41]
March 27, 2022 FINIS Kids of Steel Triathlon Aquatics Center FINIS Philippines [41]
April 23, 2022 80th Central Northern Luzon-CAR Swimming Coaches Association (CNLCSCA) Swim Series Aquatics Center CNLCSCA and AC Dax Aquatics Swim Club [42][43]
June 6 New Clark City Spartan Stadion Athletics Stadium Spartan Race Philippines [44]
June 25–26 83rd CNLCSCA Swim Series Aquatics Center CNLCSCA [45]
July 17 New Clark City Duathlon Athletics Stadium and Open Roads GoClark Sports and Events [46]
August 6–7 85th CNLCSCA Invitational Friendship Meet Aquatics Center CNLCSCA [47]
August 20–21 FINIS Short Course National Finals Aquatics Center FINIS Philippines [48][49]
August 27–28 Clark Cycling Classics Open Roads GoClark [50]
August 27–29 PSI Long Course Grand Prix Qualifying Series CNL - CAR Aquatics Center PSI [51]
September 10–11 86th CNLCSCA Swim Series Aquatics Center CNLCSCA [52]
October 13–16 PSI Long Course Grand Prix National Championships Aquatics Center PSI [53]

See also edit

References edit

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  2. ^ "New Clark City Sports Hub". AlloyMTD Philippines. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  3. ^ a b 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. ^ "New Clark City National Government Administrative Center (NCC NGAC) Phase 1 | PPP Center".
  5. ^ a b c Giongco, Nick (2016). PSC, BCDA get cozy over sports center. Retrieved 27 August 2016. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  6. ^ "VI. Visions for CSEZ for the Next 14 Months (April 2003-June 2004)". CDC Annual Report 2002 (PDF). Clark Development Corporation. p. 9. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  7. ^ Badua, Snow (2016). PSC bares plan to construct multi-billion peso 'Philippine Olympic City' at Clark. Spin.ph. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  8. ^ a b 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.
  9. ^ a b "New Clark City ready for SEA Games in November". Manila Bulletin. 19 June 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  10. ^ Saldajeno, Ivan (25 April 2018). "BCDA begins pouring cement on New Clark City athletic field". Dugout Philippines. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ "Video". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2020-07-26.
  13. ^ "No damage in SEA Games venues, says BCDA". ABS-CBN News. 23 April 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  14. ^ "Builder targets August completion for constructing New Clark facilities". ABS-CBN News. 21 June 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  15. ^ Musico, Jelly (20 July 2019). "PRRD to inaugurate New Clark City sports complex in November". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  16. ^ Mostoles, Trisha (1 September 2019). "Pinoy athletes try out SEA Games facilities in New Clark City". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  17. ^ a b c Datu, Carlo Lorenzo J. (31 August 2019). "New Clark City hosts SEA Games pre-qualifying competitions". Philippine Information Agency. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  18. ^ Matel, Philip (31 August 2019). "Brand-new Aquatics Stadium hosts national swimming championships". ESPN. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  19. ^ "New Clark City to test facilities with triathlon race". Rappler. 13 August 2019. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  20. ^ "New Clark City hosts inaugural triathlon". CNN Philippines. 20 October 2019. Archived from the original on 21 October 2019. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  21. ^ "PH athletics picks up 3 golds in 2019 SEA Games test event". Rappler. 28 October 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  22. ^ 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.
  23. ^ a b Torres, Judith; Mata, Denny (13 August 2019). "BCDA Pres tackles USD 5 billion New Clark City, white elephants". BluPrint. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  24. ^ "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.
  25. ^ a b c Enriquez, Marge (3 January 2018). "Design duo tapped to build 'city of the future'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  26. ^ a b c Luz Lopez, Melissa (14 June 2019). "Clark stadium, pools for SEA Games completed by August". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on 15 July 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  27. ^ Dancel, Raul (20 July 2019). "Main venue for SEA Games in November mostly complete, say Philippine officials". The Straits Times. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  28. ^ Remo, Amy (17 February 2018). "Rise of the new city". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  29. ^ Jose, M.J. (14 November 2019). "The Athletics Stadium and Aquatics Centre Rise in New Clark City". Tatler Philippines. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  30. ^ a b "Clark facilities for SEAG get good rating". The Philippine Star. 26 November 2018. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  31. ^ 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.
  32. ^ "National Academy of Sports targets school opening by August 2021". cnn. Archived from the original on 2021-05-11. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  33. ^ BCDA News (31 August 2019). "National athletes test SEA Games-ready facilities in New Clark City". Archived from the original on 2 September 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  34. ^ iorbit (2 September 2019). "1st PHL National Open Swimming Competition & 2019 PATAFA Relay". Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  35. ^ News, Trisha Mostoles, ABS-CBN. "Thousands of athletes participate in first-ever triathlon in New Clark City". ABS-CBN News. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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  45. ^ "83rd CNLCSCA". BCDA.
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  47. ^ "85th Central Northern Luzon-CAR Swimming Coaches Association Invitational Friendship meet". BCDA.
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  50. ^ "Clark Cycling Classic Race Information", GoClark
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  53. ^ "FINA allows PSI event in Capas, Tarlac as World Championships qualifier".