BORACAY — The country's staging of the just-concluded 4th Southeast Asia Open Water Swimming Championships presented by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) here has opened up opportunities for hosting similar yet bigger international events in the future.

"We are grateful that we staged this international open water swimming showcase smoothly. It has opened up chances in hosting similar but bigger events in the future," said Philippine Aquatics Inc. (PAI) secretary general Eric Buhain, who was hands-on in staging the meet from start to finish.

"The opportunities are there now that we have laid the foundation in organizing and hosting bigger international events because of the lessons learned and experiences we've had here."

He disclosed the overall positive feedback from the participants of the three-day meet also supported by National Sports Tourism Interagency Committee led by PSC chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio as well as the Aklan provincial and Malay municipal governments.

Among those who gave high marks for the staging of the three-day competition organized by the PAI and sanctioned by the Southeast Asian Swimming Federation was World Aquatics evaluator Damien Van de Berg of Australia.

"For this event to be approved by World Aquatics, it must have WA evaluator for referees, so basically that is why I am here," Van de Berg said.

"And I could see overall the joy and pride of those who are involved in the hosting.”

"It has been an honor and privilege to witness that."

Asked if possible bigger international open water swimming meets could be staged in the Philippines, Van de Berg replied: "Absolutely. The infrastructure needs to be on a bigger scale but all the core parts are there."

"From what I have seen, there is a basis for the future of staging Asian open water championships and World Cups. They come with significant costs for the hosts and your government, but all you need to do is to scale up," explained the veteran international open water swimming referee of four world championships.

"As I told (PAI secretary general) Eric, your local organizing committee should be congratulated for what has been a first-rate hosting. It was done pretty well. Sky is the limit for the Philippines in hosting future bigger open water meets," he said.

Those encouraging words were music to the ears of Gregorio, whose sports tourism advocacy has become a byword for local sports and tourism industries.

"First of all, I would like to congratulate sec-gen Eric Buhain and all the people behind the hosting of the 4th Southeast Asia Open Water Swimming Championships for a job well done," Gregorio said during his visit here during the event's last day over the weekend.

"Indeed, this competition serves as a test run, a dress rehearsal for hosting bigger international open water in the future not only in Boracay but in our other attractive beach destinations.”

"This is now our strategic, two-pronged approach in promoting and developing sports and tourism: providing platforms for our athletes to play against the best from overseas while generating income for our country in showcasing our tourist attractions."