MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City government has opened four new facilities at the Amoranto Sports Complex, which Mayor Joy Belmonte said would allow the city to hold local and international sporting events.
Belmonte recently led the inauguration and inspection of the new Amoranto Sports Arena, which can accommodate up to 3,500 people.
She also inaugurated a new Olympic-size swimming pool with 10 lanes that can be used also for local and international swimming meets, as well as an open tennis court that will be part of the planned indoor sports facility.
The complex also now has a multi-level parking building that can accommodate big vehicles, including buses ferrying participants and guests.
“I promised a this state-of-the-art Amoranto Sports Complex. What we are proud of here is that this is not just any sports facility,” the mayor said in Filipino.
“Now, we want to raise the level of our city so that we are not only known for the advocacies that the we fight for, but also for the first-class facilities that we will build, starting with the inauguration of this arena,” she added.
The new facilities, she said, will also help local athletes reap more accolades for the city.
“Quezon City will now be known not just for being the City of Stars, but also as the Sports Capital of our country. That it my goal – to promote, provide and create outstanding athletes here in the city. But we cannot create champions without first-class facilities,” she pointed out.
Earlier, the local government said it is also planning to improve the existing grandstand and the track and field oval, with ongoing studies for the possible renovation of the existing velodrome.
Constructed in 1960 on a 5.8-hectare land in Barangay Paligsahan, the sports complex is composed of a grandstand with main stadium, an eight-lane track and field oval, bleachers and a gymnasium.
It also has tennis courts, badminton courts, martial arts facility, swimming pool and other facilities for different sports activities.
According to Belmonte, the new facilities may also be used by the general public, barangays and employees of the city government for their sporting events.
The city government is finalizing the rates for those who want to use the pool for practice or group training.