Olympic qualifier for athletics set in New Clark City

The national open for the Tokyo Olympics is now set for April next year at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium.

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA—The Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association is set to hold an Olympic qualifier for athletics by April next year at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium in Capas.

Bases Conversion Development Authority president Vince Dizon, whose agency oversees the development of the New Clark City, confirmed the development on Tuesday.

The so-called "national open" set in April is supposed to be the 2020 edition if not for the lengthy postponement caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

PATAFA initially rescheduled the national open for this month, but the current situation amid the pandemic forced another postponement.

Dizon said that the Athletics Stadium, which hosted last year's Southeast Asian Games, is ready for the influx of the athletes with its high level of quality.

"Yung ating stadium doon ay certified by the IAAF, so pwede nang mag-Olympic qualifier doon," he said.

Some of the athletes, however, may arrive at the venue as early as February as Dizon also bared that the national team will hold a training bubble there until March.

He also said that the national triathlon also looks to hold a training bubble at New Clark City, while swimming will have its turn as well later in the year.

Another national open for athletics is scheduled for either September or October as a qualifier for the SEA Games next December.

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