CEBU, Philippines — After almost a year since it was temporarily closed for renovation, the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) has reopened its pool facility, and introduced newly-renovated features just in time for the opening of the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) tomorrow, May 4, 2024.
Yesterday, a ceremonial reopening of CCSC’s pool facility took place, led by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and Councilor Dondon Hontiveros, chairman of the Committee on Sports of the Cebu City Council.
In an interview, John Pages, chairman of the Cebu City Sports Commission, said the renovation costs at least P25 million, which is privately-funded.
Pages highlighted that the primary pool has a brand new filtration system with starting blocks that is comparable with “international standards”.
Among the features that Pages takes pride of is the conversion of the kiddie pool to a 25-meter warm up pool, a standard requirement to host national sports events.
With this, Pages said that the facility is up and ready for the hosting of CVIRAA that will kick off tomorrow, until May 9, 2024.
“So for the next weeks, this will be exclusively used by our athletes for the CVIRAA,” said Pages.
Although the pool will be opened for the athletes for them to practice for the CVIRAA meet, Pages said that right after the regional meet, it will be then opened to the public.
Further, Pages said the main pool is an olympic-size pool, that is 50 meters by 25. By far, it is the only olympic-size pool in Cebu City.
Also featured during the ceremony were the newly-renovated shower rooms, comfort rooms, bathrooms, ceilings, and hallways.
Bryle Villahermosa, 15-year-old swimmer, among those who will represent Cebu City for the CVIRAA, expressed his enthusiasm on the reopening of the pool. According to him, swimmers like him can now have a proper facility to practice in.
“This new pool is already a great representation of Cebu for swimmers and the other athletes,” said the young swimmer.
Last May 18, 2023, the 29-year-old sports center was closed down for renovations.
With the reopening of the pool facility, the CCSC renovation is now halfway through and is assured to be ready just in time for the Palarong Pambansa hosting.
The track oval is set to be open in June 20, a month before the Palaro, which completes the CCSC renovation.
“In fact nindot kaayo ni nga we go through the CVIRAA, which is just as big as the Palaro, which will also help us prepare, I’m sure there will be a lot of learnings in the coming weeks for us to prepare for the national meet,” said Pages.
The CVIRAA will serve as simulation event for the Palarong Pambansa as 90 percent of the playing venues will be the same with the Palarong Pambansa hosting.
CVIRAA ready
Meanwhile, Pages said that as of yesterday, delegates from all over 20 participating divisions have started to arrive in Cebu City for the CVIRAA meet.
“So they are starting to go to the schools and billeting quarters,” said Pages.
The opening ceremony will be tomorrow, May 4, 2024 at the South Road Properties (SRP) grounds.
As for the billeting quarters, delegates were already seen setting up and polishing their assigned quarters ahead of the CVIRAA.
In an interview with the media, Aquirino T Milar Jr, IO of DepEd Tagbilaran City Division said they are pleased with their assigned quarters at Lahug Elementary School.
Just for Tagbilaran alone, Milar said they have a total of 687 delegates composed of athletes, and their technical and working committee.
“We are very satisfied,” said Milar.
He highlighted the anticipated challenge on the city’s water crisis, however, added that they were assured that the city government will provide with supply onwards. ATO (CEBU NEWS)