The third and last leg of the FINIS Short Course Swim Competition will be the centerpiece of the Davao Del Sur Swim Festival this August in Matti, Digos City, Davao del Sur.
Organized by FINIS Philippines, in collaboration with the provincial government of Davao del Sur led by Gov. Yvonne Rona-Cagas, the Swim Festival will start with the culmination of the FINIS Short Course Swim Championship—the Mindanao leg—slated this weekend (August 6 and 7) at the Davao del Sur Olympic Size Pool inside the newly constructed Gov. Douglas RA Cagas Sports, Cultural and Business Complex in Matti, Digos City, Davao del Sur.
“FINIS is offering the best program for homegrown talents. Because we focus on giving regular swimmers a chance to compete in a global-type of environment. Here, they are like participating in an international event, from medals, equipment and technical people. We based it from an international organized event,” said FINIS Philippines Managing Director Vince Garcia.
Garcia insisted that FINIS’ goal is to help the country’s grassroots sports program and during his years of involvement in local swimming, he pointed out that there are many talents, who are just waiting for an opportunity to be developed and included in the national team.
“We at FINIS are helping to create a program at the grassroots, with the number of talented people in the Philippines, we’re hoping that the NSAs will help homegrown talents so that they can compete in the competition abroad,” said Garcia.
The FINIS Passig Islet 5K Open Water Swim Challenge is scheduled to be held on August 27 while the Kids of Steel Triathlon Finis Green Aquathlon (kids & adults) is on August 28 in Digos City.
Garcia expects an influx of participants with the online registration at Raceyaya.com as many more young swimmers seek to qualify for the National Finals on August 20 and 21 in New Clark City in Tarlac.
Garcia said the top 16 swimmers in each event will compete in the National Finals, where bigger prizes await, including a training package for athletes who can erase a national record.
“After the Mindanao leg, we will finalize the top 16 per event for the National Finals. Those who did not record a good time in the Luzon and Visayas legs, can still participate in the Mindanao leg, maybe this time they can get the qualifying time,” said Garcia.