CAPAS, Tarlac. – The 365-day countdown for the country’s staging of the 11th Asian Age group Swimming Championships in November 2023 was launched Wednesday at the world-class New Clark City Aquatic Center here.
Philippine Olympic Committee President and Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, Asian Swimming Federation secretary general Taha Al Kishry, and Clark Development Corp. CEO Agnes Devvenadera and Bases Conversion Development Authority Senior Vice President Arrey Perez signed the memorandum of agreement for the staging of the blue-ribbon competition featuring top age group swimmers from Asia.
“I would like to thank the AASF for giving us the opportunity to host a big event like this,” Tolentino said. “It’s really hard to bid to host an international event like swimming.”
Tolentino said the POC will work closely with the Philippine Swimming, Inc. headed by Lani Velasco, the BCDA and AASF to ensure the event will proceed without a hitch.
“Considering that swimming is an Olympic sport, the POC would like to play a prominent role in the staging of the Asian age-group swimming competition where we hope that our local age group swimmers will do well,” Tolentino said.
“After three years with international age group swimming in Asia, we hope that this event will spur development once again. We wanted the New Clark City Aquatic Center to be the venue of this event,” Al Kishry said of the facility that is certified by the International Swimming Federation.
Action in the Nov. 23-Dec. 1, 2023 meet are swimming, diving, artistic (synchronized) and water polo, including a category for boys and girls as young as 11.
Perez said they are ready and prepared to host swimming teams from all over Asia at the site of the 2019 30th Southeast Asian Games swimming championships.
“We do not only have the facilities but also the quarters to host all of the participants,” said Perez, pointing to the dormitories that served as the SEA Games Village located within the complex.
