The Congress of Philippine Aquatics, Inc. announced the resumption of its nationwide program and activities as it holds the 2nd leg of the Reunion Swim Challenge on August 27 and 28 at the newly-refurbished Teofilo Ildefonso Swimming Pool inside the historic Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Malate, Manila.
Batangas Congressman Eric Buhain said the swimfest is open to all Filipinos, teams or clubs regardless of affiliations as COPA has embarked on the goal 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 mangyari at ito ay ang yumabong ang swimming. We have to train the trainers and the development and improvement of our swimmers will follow,” said the swimming icon and elected Representative of Batangas 1st District.
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 boasts of more than 200 teams/clubs in 11 clusters, comprising the 17 regions of the country. It has close to 300 coaches with a total membership (swimmers) of 3,500.
Aside from the Reunion Swim Challenge, COPA is holding the 1st Novice Swim Championship slated September 17 and 18; the Reunion 3rd leg on October 1 and 2; the Reunion Swim Challenge Championship on Oct. 22 and 23; Sprint meet with the introduction of the SKINS Swim event on Nov. 12 and 13; and Short Course Yuletide Swimming Championship on Dec. 10 and 11.
COPA National Training Director and Olympian (1972 Munich) Carlos ‘Pinky’ Brosas said they lined-up coaching seminars in January next year in five locations – Northern Luzon, NCR, Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao – with renowned Australian coach Wayne Goldsmith as resource speaker.