Inaasahang makahihikayat ang kasikatan ng Boracay bilang pangunahing island beach resort ng bansa ng mas maraming kalahok at turista na manonood para sa 4th Southeast Asian Open Water Championships.
Gaganapin ito mula Agosto 21 hanggang 23 sa karagatan ng Boracay Newcoast sa Malay, Aklan.
Kung may Bali ang Indonesia at Pattaya ang Thailand, laban ang Pilipinas dahil sa white sand at malinaw na tubig ng Boracay, ayon kay Philippine Aquatics Inc. (PAI) secretary general Eric Buhain.
Ayon naman kay PAI executive director Anthony Reyes, nakatakdang magpadala ng mga koponan ang pito pa sa 11 kasaping bansa ng Southeast Asian Swimming Federation, na siyang nagbibigay ng sanction sa tatlong araw na kampeonato.
“They are Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, Vietnam and of course, host Philippines,” ani Reyes.
“This sporting event not only advances the growth of open water swimming in Southeast Asia, but also shines a spotlight on Boracay island as a true gem of the region, while reflecting the warmth and hospitality of the Filipino people,” dagdag ni PAI president Michael Vargas.
Sinabi ni Buhain na inaasahan nilang aabot sa humigit-kumulang 200 manlalangoy ang lalahok sa regular na medal events sa 5 at 10 kilometro para sa men’s at women’s divisions.
Gaganapin ang mga karera sa 1.66-kilometrong parisukat na ruta sa loob ng cove ng isla, simula madaling-araw.
“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,” dagdag ni Buhain.
Pinasalamatan ni Buhain ang National Sports Tourism Inter-Agency Committee na pinamumunuan ni Philippine Sports Commission Chair Patrick Gregorio dahil sa mahalagang papel nito sa proyekto.
“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,” ani Gregorio.
“Not only is this competition a boon for open swimming development in the country but a huge boost for local tourism. 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.
Binigyang-diin nina Buhain at Reyes na nagsagawa sila ng karagdagang pag-iingat upang matiyak ang maayos na takbo ng kompetisyon sa loob ng tatlong araw.
Kabilang dito ang paglalagay ng mga lifeguard, life raft, medical team, at iba pang kinakailangang tauhan upang matugunan ang pangangailangan ng mga kalahok.
“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,” ani Buhain.