The groundbreaking Phuket International Academy Sports and Leisure Club (PIASLC) is poised to become Asia’s pre-eminent competition, training and event complex when it opens this November.

Combining a brilliant location with world-class facilities, it is already attracting interest from respected global sporting institutions and international corporations.

The PIASLC selected the prestigious World Sports Destination Expo (WSDE) as the event to launch itself to the world as a premier sports and corporate event facility.

The US$45 million complex is set on 54 acres of land in the north-eastern region of Phuket, Thailand. It boasts an extensive array of high-class sporting facilities including an International Rugby Board-standard rugby pitch, FIFA-approved Limonta ‘Soccer Pro’ soccer field, Phuket’s only competition standard 50-metre swimming pool, a six court tennis academy, a 500 metre athletics running track and a StarTrac equipped hi-tech gymnasium, as well as a dedicated arts centre and a Thai Herbal Garden Spa to compliment the sports facilities.

There are also two boutique hotels, offering 115 well-appointed rooms and suites to individual athletes, teams and corporate groups.

The club has rapidly gained recognition through high-profile affiliations with global sporting organisations such as Brazilian Soccer Schools (BSS), NZRugbyResources (NZRR), and US-based IronKids Triathlon with more announcements pending in relation to tennis and swimming.

PIA Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Nick Seaver, said the PIASLC is being positioned as Asia’s finest destination not only for sports, but also for corporate events such as conferences, incentives, retreats and teambuilding.

“Being in Phuket is a big advantage. It is not only an exotic location but the most exciting component of what we are doing is that every element of the club has been planned down to the finest detail from using cutting edge materials and equipment to employing the most qualified staff to manage and coach at the club,” Seaver added.

“As a fully-integrated complex, we are also going to be the perfect location for companies looking to build something active into their event programmes.”

“We have a dedicated team to work with corporate event organisers and planners to ensure these programmes run smoothly and of course any company hosting their event with us will have full access to all sporting, conference and team building facilities as well as on site accommodation.”

One of the many international organisations quick to partner with the PIASLC has been NZRugbyResources, who inked a deal with the club to use it as a base for elite training camps for global members of its programmes.

NZRugbyResources Director, David Adamson, said the PIASLC’s Rugby facilities were “second to none” in the region and perfect for conducting elite and amateur training camps and competitions.

“We will be bringing the very best athletes to the facility with the utmost confidence that we can deliver training levels unequalled in Asia if not the world. Combine this with our wish to work with the amateur teams throughout Thailand and Asia and the superb facilities at the PIASLC Rugby facility the entire experience will be outstanding,’’ Adamson said.

“Rugby is an extremely popular sport throughout Asia and growing in numbers every year and NZRugbyResources believes this is the finest training and playing facility in Asia. It is just amazing how much detail has gone into the planning.”

“It was an easy choice for us to base ourselves at this facility because as well as the international standard Rugby pitch, the locker rooms, medical, coaches and physiotherapy offices are state-of-the-art and the management assistance from the club has been first-class,” he added.

Another key partnership for junior athletes has been with the internationally-renowned Brazilian Soccer Schools (BSS) after officials from the organisation inspected the purpose-built floodlit soccer field at the PIASLC and endorsed the club as its home in Phuket.

The head of BSS in Leeds England, Richard Sutherland said the Phuket facility would play a vital role in increasing the profile of the coaching programme in Thailand.

“Having been to the PIASLC and seeing the pieces they are putting in place to promote junior soccer, it was a fairly easy decision for our global organisation to endorse this facility,” said Sutherland.

“Children are always going to be the future of the game and by providing BSS with a superb facility to run our proven coaching programmes, the PIASLC is offering many lucky students the chance to hone their skills and, who knows, maybe make a career out of the sport.”

The PIASLC has also confirmed an affiliation with the US-based IronKids programme, which is part of the IronMan Group but focused on children. This partnership will focus on bringing junior Triathlon events as well as training camps for children aged between 6 and 15.

Four IronKids events per year are planned, with the first one kicking off in December this year, targeting local and regional children.

“The IronKids mission is to inspire and motivate youth through sport to lead an active, positive and healthy lifestyle,” said IronKids Director, Michelle Payette.

Nick Seaver added that to achieve partnerships with such esteemed organisations was a solid endorsement of the meticulous planning that has gone into the design and construction of PIASLC.

“We have managed to secure some very prestigious partners on the basis of our future goals, which only makes us more determined to deliver one of the world’s best sporting and event facilities,” Seaver said.

Phuket International Academy Sports and Leisure Club (PIASLC)

www.phuketinternationalacademy.com