BORACAY — The Philippines has emerged as a potential host of Asian championships and World Cup-level open water swimming competitions after the successful staging of the 4th Southeast Asia Open Water Swimming Championships here earned strong marks from a World Aquatics evaluator.
World Aquatics evaluator Damien Van de Berg of Australia said the country already possesses the essential elements needed to stage higher-level competitions, although infrastructure and resources would have to be expanded.
“Absolutely. The infrastructure needs to be on a bigger scale but all the core parts are there,” Van de Berg said.
“From what I have seen, there is a basis for the future of staging Asian open water championships and World Cups. They come with significant costs for the hosts and your government, but all you need to do is to scale up,” he added.
The assessment strengthened Philippine Aquatics Inc.’s (PAI) push to bring bigger international open water competitions to the country following the three-day Southeast Asian meet held off Boracay Newcoast.
PAI secretary general Eric Buhain said the competition, presented by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), demonstrated the Philippines’ organizational capability while giving local officials valuable experience in staging an international meet.
“We are grateful that we staged this international open water swimming showcase smoothly. It has opened up chances in hosting similar but bigger events in the future,” Buhain said.
“The opportunities are there now that we have laid the foundation in organizing and hosting bigger international events because of the lessons learned and experiences we’ve had here,” he added.
Van de Berg, who has officiated in four world championships, was in Boracay as part of World Aquatics’ requirements for the competition.
“For this event to be approved by World Aquatics, it must have WA evaluator for referees, so basically that is why I am here,” Van de Berg said. “And I could see overall the joy and pride of those who are involved in the hosting.”
“It has been an honor and privilege to witness that,” he added.
Van de Berg particularly praised the local organizing committee for delivering what he described as a high-quality international competition.
“As I told (PAI secretary general) Eric, your local organizing committee should be congratulated for what has been a first-rate hosting. It was done pretty well. Sky is the limit for the Philippines in hosting future bigger open water meets,” he said.
The competition also received support from the National Sports Tourism Interagency Committee led by PSC Chairman Patrick Gregorio, as well as the provincial government of Aklan and the municipal government of Malay.
Gregorio said the Boracay championships served as a crucial test of the country’s ability to combine international sporting events with tourism promotion.
“First of all, I would like to congratulate sec-gen Eric Buhain and all the people behind the hosting of the 4th Southeast Asia Open Water Swimming Championships for a job well done,” Gregorio said.
“Indeed, this competition serves as a test run, a dress rehearsal for hosting bigger international open water in the future not only in Boracay but in our other attractive beach destinations,” he added.
Gregorio said the PSC intends to pursue sports tourism as a strategy that could simultaneously strengthen Filipino athletes’ international exposure and generate economic activity in the country’s tourism destinations.
“This is now our strategic, two-pronged approach in promoting and developing sports and tourism: providing platforms for our athletes to play against the best from overseas while generating income for our country in showcasing our tourist attraction,” Gregorio said./PN
