4th Olango Challenge set April 30

CEBU, Philippines - The first open water relay competition in the country will be held during the 4th Olango Challenge set April 30 at Tambuli East in Lapu-Lapu City.

Although there have already been several relay competitions in open water competitions abroad, this is only the first time that FINA has given the Philippine Aquatic Sports Association (PASA) the sanction to include the said event here said PASA’s Alex Reyes in yesterday’s press conference at Casino Español.

This year’s battle will feature 2 and 6-kilometer action both for the competitive and fun swimmers and the relay team.

As for the relay, the competitive side will have the men and women’s division while the fun category could be a mixed gender team.

Cash prizes will be given away to the top performers of the event while potential swimmers may gain a slot in the RP team for open water competitions abroad.

However, more than the honor and prizes one gets, it is being able to help uplift the lives of residents of Olango Island that the organizing Philippine Business for Social Progress is looking into.

Just like the past three staging, funds raised for this event will go to building of classrooms if not a school in Olango, some livelihood programs for their parents as well as for the protection of nature.

With that in mind, Lapu-Lapu City councilor Harry Radaza, the city’s chairman for the committee on sports and tourism is joining the event with the hope of helping out raise more funds.

Event organizer, Antonio Aboitiz who have been able to raise P100 thousand from friends who bet and pledged for him to finish the 5-kilometer swim in less than two hours is looking at conquering the 6-k action in less than 2 hours again.

More to it, Aboitiz had pledge an initial amount of P10 thousand for Radaza, who has never joined open water competitions before to finish the event.

All proceeds of pledges for Aboitiz, Radaza and other swimmers will go to Olango as well.

Registration fee is pegged at P500 while relay teams under the fun category will have to pay P2 thousand. Discounts will be given to those who enlist on or before April 8.

On-site registration, however, will still be made available for those who can register before the battle. (FREEMAN)