PSL, DPS launch Peace and Unity swim

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines will attempt to establish a new Guinness world swimming record for most number of swimmers in a non-stop 24-hour marathon relay with the staging of the first-ever Peace and Unity Swim on Dec. 10 at the Diliman Preparatory School swimming complex on Commonwealth Ave., Quezon City.

Presented by the Philippine Swimming League in cooperation with the Diliman Preparatory School headed by former Sen. Nikki Coseteng, the event will bring together people of various persuasions with the aim of topping the mark by 5,028 swimmers who completed a cumulative distance of 92 kilometers in an 18.3 m (60ft) pool in 24 hours only last June 12 in Italy.

Participants will take turns swimming one lap each until the last swimmer touches the end of the pool. Coseteng, who is spearheading the project, said an official of the Guinness Book in London will be in Manila to supervise and authenticate the event.

Coseteng, former manager of Galerie Dominique in the PBA up to the early 80s, said President Noynoy Aquino and Vice President Jejomar Binay, Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista and Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte will be invited to swim the first laps of the marathon relay which will later be joined in by swimmers from the government, the Armed Forces, athletes, students, professionals, celebrities, the old, the young and anybody who would like to be a part of history.

“The Peace and Unity Swim is an endeavor through which all sectors of society are invited to swim under our swim-for-all program,” said Coseteng, president-CEO of the host DPS, whose academic program also puts emphasis on sports.

Coseteng said the event would be held in celebration of Human Rights Day.

“We invite all those who can swim – professional or plain swimming buffs – to show their support for a cause where we shall attempt to land in the Guinness Book for the longest marathon distance in 24 hours,” said Coseteng.

“This is an advocacy swim where we can show our sense of unity particularly at this time when Filipinos must rally behind our new leader in our quest for progress,” said Coseteng.

The PSL, under president Susan Papa, will organize the event, which will take on a fiesta atmosphere complete with marching bands and pop music during the day and throughout the night till the wee hours of the morning.

A huge digital video will monitor the swim and make the countdown to the Guinness record visible to swimmers and spectators.

Snacks and drinks will be served to swimmers waiting for their turn or after a photo session before a background of the giant Guinness Book logo.

Finishers will receive a Certificate of Completion from the Guinness Book in London, which will also make official the record swim right after the event.