PSC opens swim pool for PSL tankers

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia has opened the Rizal Memorial swimming pool for the free use of the Philippine Swimming League for its national and international competitions leading to the 2013 Universiade in Khazan, Russia.

The move came after the Federation of School Sports Associations reached an agreement with PSL to conduct competitions to select the national team for the Universiade, also known as the University Games.

The Universiade, which has participants from colleges and universities in over 156 countries, is a multi-sport competition like the Summer Olympics.

For many years, the Philippines has not been represented in the Universiade, except last year when FESSAP was invited to send a delegation to Shenzhen, China.

The FESSAP is the accredited country member of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), which organizes the Universiade.

Under an agreement with PSL officials, former Sen. Nikki Coseteng and founder and president Susan Papa, the PSC will make available the newly renovated 50-meter RMSC swimming pool for the exclusive use of the PSL to conduct national or international competitions on March 17-18, May 19-20, Aug. 11-12 and Nov. 24-25.

The PSL has in place a 12-month circuit consisting of age group and open tournaments which culminate in the grand finals among leg winners in December.

“We thank chairman Garcia for giving us the opportunity to compete in the Rizal Memorial pool,” said Coseteng. “Through our competitions, swimmers regardless of affiliations can participate and we invite all college students to take advantage of the program.

“This is a chance for college students who have not participated in international competitions like the Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games and Olympics,” she added.

Qualified students will form the national pool which will be trained by foreign and local coaches.

Papa said the PSL has already touched base with a group of Fil-American coaches for the training of selected swimmers in California this year.