Boracay reels in more entries to SEA Open Water Championships

MANILA – The world-famous white sand of Boracay is luring more entries and visitors to the 4th Southeast Asian Open Water Championships on Aug. 21 to 23.

Seven of the 11 member countries from the Southeast Asian Swimming Federation are joining the Philippines -- Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste and Vietnam.

Around 200 swimmers are expected to compete in the regular medal distances of 5 and 10 kilometers in the men’s and women’s division that will be held over a 1.66-kilometer square course, to be held early in the morning inside the island's cove.

“But we can expect more participants in the open water festival in the 3 and 5-kilometer distances that will coincide with the regular meet so the numbers will swell, which is in keeping with PSC (Philippine Sports Commission) Chairman Patrick Gregorio’s sports tourism advocacy,” Philippine Aquatics Inc. (PAI) secretary general Eric Buhain said in a news release Sunday.

“Indonesia has its Bali, Thailand has its Pattaya, and now the Philippines has Boracay to be proud of so we can anticipate even more swimmers and tourists."

The National Sports Tourism Inter-Agency Committee, also headed by Gregorio, is deeply involved in the project.

“The 4th SEA Open Water Championships is another prime example where government, private stakeholders and national sports associations can pool their resources and efforts together in successfully staging an international sporting event,” Gregorio said.

“Not only is this competition a boon for open swimming development in the country, but a huge boost for local tourism as well. This is a win-win situation for everybody so we salute the PAI under the leadership of president Mico Vargas for hosting the event here,” he added.

Buhain, a two-time Olympian and multiple Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, assured extra precautions before and during the event.

Lifeguards, life rafts, and medical and other needed personnel are ready to address the needs of swimmers.

“Even when the swimmers train, we see to it that all of these conditions are in place before they work out in open water, more so in actual competition,” he said. (PNA)