In recognition of its world-class facilities and pools, the New Clark City Aquatics Center in Tarlac has been chosen by the Asia Swimming Federation (AASF) as the host venue for the 11th Asian Age Group Swimming Championships to be held in November 2023. The competition–which will include four aquatic disciplines, namely, swimming, diving, water polo and artistic swimming–is slated to be the first international competition in New Clark City since the hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games in 2019.  The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) will be the organizer of the event, with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) serving as a partner for the venue.  “It was in December 2019 when we decided to host the Asian Age Group Swimming Championship here in New Clark City, after the success of the SEA Games. Today, we announce the one year countdown of the championship, which will happen in November 2023,” AASF Secretary General Taha S. Al Kishry said.  To formalize the event hosting in New Clark City, the AASF Secretary General and the POC President on Wednesday, November 23, signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA), as witnessed by BCDA Senior Vice President for Corporate Services Arrey A. Perez.   “This is truly an opportunity for us to show our facilities and homegrown talents. Thank you to AASF for choosing the Philippines to host this great event,” Mr. Tolentino said.  Aside from the venue, the agreement also sets the requirements for the hosting of the Asian Age Group Championships, in accordance with AASF and Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) rules. For BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Aileen R. Zosa, the upcoming competition serves as another step towards achieving New Clark City’s vision of becoming a center of sports excellence in the country.  “We express our utmost gratitude to the AASF for its continued trust in the BCDA and for choosing New Clark City to host the region’s best swimmers for the Asian Age Group Swimming Championships next year. We are one with AASF’s vision of advancing the development of aquatic sports in the region, by ensuring a high-level competition that is compliant with international standards,” Ms. Zosa said. Mr. Perez, for his part, said this momentous competition will further cement New Clark City’s position as a prime venue for sporting events. “Our promise is this: we are with you in your vision of advancing the development of aquatic sports in the region, by ensuring a high-level competition that is of global standards,” Mr. Perez said.AASF is the governing body of aquatic sports in Asia and is duly recognized by the Olympic Council of Asia and FINA. Its mission is to elevate the importance and level of aquatics in the continent by organizing championships, activities and events which encourages the participation of its 45 National Federation members.  The New Clark City Aquatics Center is the only FINA-approved swimming facility in the Philippines. With a total seating capacity of 2,000, it features a 10-lane competition pool, eight-lane training pool and a diving pool. The competition pool, the training pool, and the diving well were designed and installed by Myrtha Pools, an official FINA partner and leading builder of made-to-measure competition pools. The New Clark City Aquatics Center is part of the National Government Administrative Center Phase 1 project.

In search of the best swimmers in the north, the Philippine Swimming Inc. (PSI), in partnership with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), will be hosting the third leg of the 2022 PSI Long Course Grand Prix Qualifying Series in New Clark City, Tarlac this August 27 to 29. The three-day event will set the stage for more than 400 swimmers from Central Luzon, Northern Luzon and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CNL-CAR) who are vying for a spot in the 2022 PSI Grand Prix National Championships, which will also be held at the world-class Aquatics Center in New Clark City this October. It is considered as a stepping stone for aspiring athletes towards becoming one of the Philippines’ elite swimmers who will represent the country in international swimming competitions in the future. “This is our flagship grassroots event where we identify talent from among our membership across the Philippines. This event is both a qualifying event to the National Championships but also, on a bigger picture, to international events, such as the Southeast Asian Age Group Swimming Championships,” PSI President Lani Velasco said. “A lot of our aspiring junior swimmers take this event seriously as an important step towards achieving the goal of representing the country. However, it is not limited to these high-level swimmers, but also to the developmental swimmers as it also provides a lot for the new swimmers an introduction to the competitive environment,” she added. The CNL-CAR qualifying round comes after the first and second National Capital Region (NCR) legs of the series last July 16 to 17 and August 13 to 14. It will be followed by the Mindanao leg and the last NCR qualifiers in September. The event also signals PSI’s return to New Clark City after almost one year following the PSI National Selection Meet in October 2021. Aileen R. Zosa, BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer, thanked PSI for always considering New Clark City as a venue for its competitions and training camps. “BCDA is always thrilled to hold sporting events in New Clark City as we remain committed to aid in the advancement of sports in the country. If by doing so, we can help discover  up-and-coming talents with immense potential to compete on the world stage, then we will  consider it the greatest honor and service. We are glad to be chosen by PSI as the host venue for this qualifying round and the national championships, and we hope to see dreams take flight here in New Clark City, the home of Filipino athletes,” Zosa said. For Velasco, holding the competition at the New Clark City Aquatics Center does not only provide athletes with the best facilities available, but a feeling like they are competing in their home court. “BCDA has always been a strong partner in helping PSI achieve its goals. We truly appreciate the assistance BCDA has given and continues to give to PSI all these years. With BCDA, our events are not only held in a world-class venue, but also organized and carried out with the highest of standards,” she said. The New Clark City Aquatics Center is the only Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA)-approved swimming facility in the Philippines. With a total seating capacity of 2,000, it features a 10-lane competition pool, eight-lane training pool and a diving pool. The competition pool, the training pool, and the diving well were designed and installed by Myrtha Pools, an official FINA partner and leading builder of made-to-measure competition pools. The New Clark City Aquatics Center is part of the National Government Administrative Center Phase 1 project. Aside from the PSI Grand Prix qualifiers, New Clark City will also host on August 27 to 28 the GoClark Cycling Classic, which will feature individual and team trial cycling courses and a Gravel race.

Over 300 young Filipino swimmers from all across the Philippines battled it out at the FINIS Short Course National Finals, which was held at the New Clark City Aquatics Center in Tarlac on 20 and 21 August 2022. The country’s best homegrown swimmers made their presence felt with victories in the two-day FINIS Short Course National Finals, aimed at providing greater opportunities for quality racing to young Filipino swimmers at the grassroots level. Fourteen swimmers, aged 8 to 19, from Tarlac, Davao, Iloilo, Pangasinan and other parts of the country emerged as most outstanding swimmers at the FINIS Short Course National Finals. Northmin Stars Swimming Team of Mindanao emerged as the overall team champion with 425.50 points, followed by Megakraken Swim Team of Visayas with 365, and Dax Swim Team of Luzon with 315. Through their events and programs, FINIS Philippines Managing Director Vince Garcia is hopeful that more Filipino swimmers will be provided a chance to compete in a global type of environment. “I want to inspire our young swimmers, that’s my long-time dream. Gusto kong makita silang nagko-compete sa isang torneo na parang lumalaban ka na sa international event not just sa environment, sa medalya but sa uri ng mga technical personnel,” said Mr. Garcia. FINIS Philippines is the sole authorized distributor of US-based swim gear brand FINIS, which specializes in technical devices used for swim training and competition, as well as technical swimwear. Its training products are widely used by elite swimmers and swim coaches in the United States, Australia, Europe and Asia. A foundation for bigger arenas For her part, Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) President and Chief Executive Officer Aileen R. Zosa said that BCDA and FINIS Philippines share a common goal of nurturing Filipino athletes to perform and achieve their highest potential through providing them with enthusiastic programs and modern sports facilities. The New Clark City Aquatics Center is the only Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA)- approved swimming facility in the Philippines. It features 2,000-seating capacity, a 10-lane competition pool, eight-lane training pool and a diving pool, which were designed and installed by Myrtha Pools – an official FINA partner. Cited as the 2019 Sports Tourism Venue of the Year at the 4th Philippine Sports Tourism Awards, the New Clark City also houses the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF)- certified Athletics Stadium, and the 525-room Athletes’ Village accommodation facility. New Clark City served as the main venue of the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, where the athletics and aquatic events were held.

BCDA Officer-in-Charge President and CEO Atty. Aristotle B. Batuhan and Finis Philippines Managing Director Vince Garcia (third and fourth from right, respectively) on March 25, 2022 led the signing of the MOU and letter agreement between BCDA and Finis Philippines for the promotion and use of sports facilities in New Clark City. BCDA SVP for Corporate Services Arrey Perez (second from right) and Finis Philippines Director Marieta Herranz (second from left) served as witnesses. Elite swimmers Kyla Soguilon (leftmost) and Jasmine Mojdeh (rightmost) were in attendance to show their support. Giving a boost to Philippine sports amid the country’s transition to the new normal, swim gear company Finis Philippines has partnered with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) to jumpstart sports activities and deliver grassroots competitions at New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac. BCDA Officer-in-Charge President and Chief Executive Officer Atty. Aristotle. B. Batuhan and Finis Philippines Managing Director Vince Garcia on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signaling the start of collaborative efforts to promote New Clark City and to hold various events in the sports facilities in the area. Under the MOU, both parties are eyeing sustained cooperation over a one-year period, and renewable for another year. “We at the BCDA would like to thank Finis Philippines for choosing New Clark City as their venue of choice for its competitions and training camps. With the country now shifting to the new normal, the BCDA is looking forward to opening its doors to more swimmers and athletes in New Clark City, giving them access to world-class sport facilities,” Batuhan said. Positioned as the new premiere sports destination in the country, the New Clark City sports complex is the first major sports hub built by the government since the completion of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in 1934. This consists of the Fédération Internationale de Natation’s (FINA)- approved Aquatics Center, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF)- certified Athletics Stadium, and the 525-room Athletes’ Village accommodation facility. Finis Philippines is the sole authorized distributor of US-based swim gear brand Finis, which specializes in technical devices used for swim training and competition, as well as technical swimwear. Its training products are widely used by elite swimmers and swim coaches in the US, Australia, Europe and Asia. “Finis exudes elite swimming since all its training gear innovations are developed to make the best of the best. We only find it fitting that we kick off our very own swim competitions with the best and only global standard facility in our nation. This is precisely why we chose BCDA and its New Clark City Aquatics Center,” Garcia said. Elite Filipino swimmers were in attendance at the Aquatics Center as a show of support for the partnership between BCDA and Finis. They include Kyla Soguilon, multiple winner of the Athlete of the Year award by the Philippine Sportswriters Association, and national swimming team record holder Jasmine Mojdeh. Competitions for adults, kids Also during Friday’s event, BCDA and Finis signed the letter agreement for the hosting of the 2022 Short Course Swim Competition Series – Luzon leg on March 26 to 27, and the first Kids of Steel (KOS) Triathlon on March 27 at the New Clark City Aquatics Center. The two-day short swim competition series’ heats will have timed finals, sorted into eight age groups based on the participant’s age as of December 31, 2022. The best swimmers in each category will have a chance to compete for the Finis National Finals this June, also at the New Clark City Aquatics Center. Meanwhile, the KOS Triathlon, officially sanctioned by the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP), will continue the grassroots level of scouting potential young triathletes. Promising participants may be asked to join the developmental training program of TRAP. “Our hearts go out to all kids that were cooped up for two years. It has affected their social skills in interacting with other kids, as well as other people. When Level 1 restrictions of the pandemic were announced, we thought that it was the perfect time to have the kids to finally come out and play. Sports is very important to hone the life skills of kids and we should all nurture that,” Garcia said. Garcia added that, ”Once we get our momentum, we have other sports to host in the near future. In the pipelines are the Finis Long Course Swim Competition Series, Open Water Swim Races, Aquathlons, and lots of swim-related training clinics to develop everyone to love the sport of swimming.” To protect the health of the staff and participants, BCDA and Finis assured that minimum health and safety protocols will be strictly implemented during the events.