THE Congress of Philippine Aquatics, Inc. will resume its nationwide program and activities as it holds the second leg of the Reunion Swim Challenge on Aug. 27-28 at the newly-refurbished Teofilo Ildefonso Swimming Pool inside the historic Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Malate, Manila.
Batangas Rep. Eric Buhain said the event is open to all Filipino teams or clubs regardless of affiliation as COPA embarks on its thrust of unifying organizations in the swimming community.
“Regardless of your affiliation, COPA welcomes everybody with open arms. Isa lang naman ang interest natin at gusto nating yumabong ang swimming. We have to train the trainers and the development and improvement of our swimmers followed,” said the swimming icon.
“After more than two years of inaction due to the pandemic, finally our young swimmers can now go back to the pool, enjoy the action once again and resume the club grassroots sports development program. Importante, malaman na ng mga swimmers na balik na at puwede na ang kompetisyon,” added Buhain.
The swimming Olympian and former SEA Games record holder formed COPA together with Chito Rivera, Darren Evangelista, Joel Esquivel and Richard Luna in 2020. Today, the group boosts of more than 200 teams/clubs in 11 clusters in 17 regions of the archipelago. It has close to 300 coaches with a total membership (swimmers) of 3,500.
“I remember we started the year with organizing a coaches’ technical seminar through the Samahang Manlalangoy ng Pilipinas. We were about to roll out a series of seminars in different parts of the country for the benefit of our coach friends, but the pandemic hit and we had to postpone all the plans,” said Buhain.
“Ngayon, nakakabangon na tayo unti-unti. Tuloy na ang ating mga programa. And COPA has line up a busy schedule for the coming months in preparation for the ‘Big One’ next year,” he added.
COPA is holding the 1st Novice Swim Championship on Sept. 17-18; the Reunion 3rd leg on Oct. 1-2; the Reunion Swim Challenge Championship on Oct. 22-23; Sprint meet with introduction of SKINS Swim event (Nov. 12-13); and Short Course Yuletide Swimming Championship (Dec. 10-11).
COPA National Training Director and Olympian (1972 Munich) Carlos “Pinky” Brosas said they have lined up coaching seminars in January next year in five locations — Northern Luzon, NCR, Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao — with no less than renowned Australian coach Wayne Goldsmith as resource speaker.