NEW CLARK CITY, Tarlac — New Clark City Aquatics Center boosted the morale of the country’s swimming team.
Philippine Swimming Inc. (PSI) team coach Sherwyn John Santiago told reporters that the athletes competing in the 1st National Open Swimming Championships were impressed in the 2,000-seater facility.
He explained that about 36 to 40 swimmers will be chosen to represent the country in the 30thSoutheast Asian Games (SEA Games) from nearly 200 who joined the said pre-qualifying competition.
“Since we are hosting SEA games this year, we want to fill up all the events and we all have representations so more chances of winning and experience for our swimmers,” he added.
For her part, PSI President Lani Velasco thanked President Rodrigo Duterte, Bases Conversion and Development Authority President and CEO Vivencio Dizon, and House Speaker and Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee Chairperson Alan Peter Cayetano for the creation of the facility for Filipino swimmers, divers, and water polo players.
“If it were not for them, we won’t be here today. This is a state-of-the-art stadium that we all know as the first in the country,” she said.
Velasco disclosed that the facility may also serve as a training ground for foreign swimmers competing in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo which may further inspire Filipino athletes.
“This pool, because it is a FINA (Federation Internationale de Natation)-accredited pool, it can be the training ground for all European and US-based swimmers who are preparing for the Tokyo Olympics. We’ll bring them over here so we could inspire our swimmers to see all of them,” she furthered.
Design for the Aquatics Center shows the coastal heritage of the Filipino people, depicting Capiz shells used as windows, while the structural faming mimics the weaving patterns of the “baklad’” or woven fish nets.