Sports Commission Confirms Venue Readiness
Officials from the Philippine Sports Commission said that the Rizal Memorial tennis venue is almost ready for international competition. The assurance comes after inspections showed that the courts, facilities, and support areas were almost ready to be used. Officials stressed that the remaining work is mostly about finishing touches, not fixing structural problems.
Gregorio said that the recent progress is the result of weeks of faster rehabilitation work in many complicated areas. Improvements are now clearly different from what the media and other stakeholders saw before. The commission wants everyone to be fully ready before the official qualifying matches start.
Source: Philippine News Agency/Website
Rizal Memorial Complex Changes Quickly
The rehabilitation program started in early December and ran without a break through the holidays and into the new year. Every day, workers from different government agencies worked together to meet strict international hosting standards. The goal of this effort was to show off the complex as a modern national sports venue.
Gregorio said that major upgrades that are almost done include landscaping, entrances, fan zones, and media facilities. He said that changes that could be seen happened in days instead of months. The change shows how important it is to host a global tournament.
Government Agencies Coordinate Intensive Rehabilitation Effort
The Philippine Sports Commission worked closely with the DPWH and city officials in Manila during the whole process of redeveloping. Reports say that staff worked nonstop, with no breaks for holidays, to meet tournament deadlines. Coordination made sure that construction, logistics, and compliance all happened at the same time.
Gregorio said that working together made the venue’s readiness timeline move faster. He said that agencies working together helped avoid bureaucratic delays. The collaboration showed that different agencies can work together well for a big sports event.
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Hosting WTA Event Drives Sports Tourism Goals
Gregorio said that hosting international tournaments makes both the facilities and the cities around them stronger. He said that sports tourism leads to improvements in infrastructure that go beyond what is needed for competition. The WTA event is a spark for bigger improvements in the city.
Officials think that better venues make the country look better as a good place to host international events. The project connects sports development with tourism and making the economy more visible. The tournament itself is not the only thing that will help in the long run.
Budget Allocation Covers Hosting And Infrastructure
The commission said that they spent about ₱100 million on renovations and hosting costs. Gregorio said the amount was small given how bad the complex had gotten before. Funds fixed a number of problems with the structure and operations.
Because of the size of the repairs that needed to be made, officials stressed the need to spend wisely. Costs for hosting were combined with long-overdue repairs to the building. The goal of the investment was to get the most value out of it, not just a short-term show.
Tournament Schedule And Athlete Participation Confirmed
The Philippine Women’s Open starts with qualifying matches on January 24, followed by the main draw competition. The tournament will be held at the newly renovated complex until January 31. Officials confirmed that this schedule is in line with operational readiness.
Alex Eala, a Filipina tennis star, has said she will take part in the historic event. Her being there gives the international tournament more meaning in the area. The people in charge think that the media and the public will be very interested all week.
Venue Seen As Model For Future International Events
Gregorio said that the improvements to the Rizal Memorial set a good example for future sports hosting projects. The project shows how targeted investment can bring old venues back to life. Officials think of the complex as a national asset for a long time.
The commission plans to use the upgrade to hold more international competitions. Long-term use is expected to make the cost of rehabilitation worth it. Officials think the venue can be the base for future sports tourism efforts in the Philippines.
