Swimmers and coaches from the Israel national team are using the New Clark City Aquatics Center in Tarlac for their preparation for the Tokyo Olympic Games.
The 17-man team began its training in the facility last weekend and is set to continue doing so until July 19 before it heads to Japan to compete in the rescheduled quadrennial Games.
It has been impressed with the Aquatics Center, which boasts of a 10-lane competition pool, eight-lane training pool and a diving pool, and is the only FINA-accredited swimming facility in the country.
“It’s a really nice pool with really nice surrounding views. And the bright color of the pool makes it look even better. More importantly, I like how the pool is really fast,” said Andrea Murez, a 29-year-old swimmer who competes in the 100-meter freestyle event.
The hosting of the Israel team is the first for the Aquatics Center since the outbreak of the coronavirus in the country and the community restrictions after.
It is being done in coordination with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and its subsidiary Clark Development Corp. (CDC), and the local swimming federation the Philippine Swimming Inc.
“We are thrilled yet humbled at the same time to host our friends from Israel in New Clark City’s first-ever sports bubble. Israel is one of the leading countries in the world for COVID-19 vaccination and response. So, for their athletes, coaches and officials to have the confidence to train in our country and at the Aquatics Center – that is truly a blessing,” said BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Vince Dizon, who visited the swimming facility on Thursday.
The Israeli team’s bubble training comes after BCDA and CDC’s hosting of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup last year, the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers in June, and recently the PhilCycling National Trials for Road, which were all held inside the Clark Freeport Zone.
