PSI preparations go full blast for 2019 PH SEA Games

The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) received praises after lifting the suspension of the Philippine Swimming Inc. (PSI).

With a little over a year left before the 30th Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines, PSI officials headed by its president, Lani Velasco, can begin mapping out plans for the national tankers.

Aquatics is the biggest sport in the Games with at least 60 gold medals at stake in swimming, diving, synchronized swimming, water polo and open water swimming.

The PSI will be on top of these events during the 11-nation meet slated Nov. 30 to Dec. 10, 2019.

The POC general assembly recently ratified the reinstatement of swimming after the POC executive board unanimously voted to lift the suspension that spanned over eight months or since the local Olympic body held its first GA in March under president Ricky Vargas.

During those eight months, the PSI organized the successful 42nd Southeast Asian Age Group Swimming Championships in July at Trace Aquatics Center in Los Baños, Laguna, where the Philippines captured four gold, 10 silver and 16 bronze medals.

Through the support of the PSI management, the country was able to qualify United States-based Nicole Oliva to the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the biggest gathering of junior athletes aged 18 years and below.
Oliva figured in the finals of the women’s 400-meter freestyle against the best under-18 tankers in the world and finished sixth, the first time a Filipino has made it to the swim finals of the YOG.

The swimming association under Velasco’s watch also invited nine renowned international coaches, who shared their insights and knowledge with Filipino coaches, officials and athletes.

International Swimming Federation (Fina) executive board member Taha Al-Kishry of Oman visited the country early this year and sat down with Vargas and POC secretary general Patrick Gregorio to iron out the leadership row in the sport.

Former Olympians Akiko Thomson-Guevara and Ral Rosario questioned the leadership of Velasco and have called for another election to settle the dispute.

It fell on deaf ears since Velasco has already been recognized by the Fina and the Asian Amateur Swimming Federation (AASF).

Velasco also sits as a member of the AASF executive bureau and the powerful Fina disciplinary panel. Also in July, she was invited to the 110th anniversary of the global governing body in Lausanne, Switzerland, by Fina president Julio Maglione, an International Olympic Committee member.