Spain to host AWD Camp in December
News about AWD Synchro swimmers has been spreading fast since Taiwan's successful June 2015 AWD synchro symposium. Spain has now jumped in and the Royal Spanish Swim Federation, which oversees all synchro in Spain has approved Spain's 1st Synchronized Swimming AWD camp this coming December. SS~AWD Reps from USA will attend along with one of USA's AWD Ambassador (SS~AWD Org. founder) Raquel Boales, who will be featured in the Spain camp and exhibition.
The Costa Blanca Synchro Swim Club in Benidorm, Spain will host the 5 day camp from December 4th through December 8th. Coach Albertina Onsea, who is also one of Spain's National team coaches has been working tirelessly to bring together many AWD coaches and swimmers from throughout Europe. They will feature local synchro coaches, disability experts and even members of Spain's National Synchro team to help make the event a success.
Spain will be joining many Countries who are considering or have added an AWD program for synchronized swimming. There are 13 Countries who have implemented stand alone programs or incorporated AWD swimmers into their current programs. Countries such as Canada, USA, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Italy, Taiwan, Japan, UK and Russia have already started to consider synchronized swimming as a Paralympic Sport. According to Tina Boales, SS~AWD President, "Many Countries had taken notice since we went to Taiwan in June and kicked off their inaugural AWD Symposium and Exhibition, which got the attention of 6 participating Countries Ambassadors and even the President of Taiwan. It was a very successful event and highly publicized, showing the World that AWD swimmers can in fact, do synchronized swimming and ultimately at an elite level for Paralympic Games". And, the Countries are now beginning to work with their Federations for AWD synchro seminars, symposiums and camps to get the ball rolling. It will take another 3 years to introduce synchronized swimming as a Paralympic sport as well as 9 years before the sport can even introduce it first AWD athletes in the Paralympic Games.
"I think it's KEY that the powerhouse Countries with big roots in synchronized swimming take notice of their AWD swimmers because if they want to maintain their status in the competitive realm, then they would want to include themselves in the grass roots efforts to push synchronized swimming in as a Paralympic Sport", says Tina Boales. "It's good for the Countries and great diversity for the sport". The SS~AWD Organization applauds the Spanish Federation and the Costa Blanca Synchronized Swim Club in stepping up for their Country. Now is the time to start the process for success in the future. Coincidentally, it will be the 2024 Games that perhaps synchronized swimming will make it's Paralympic debut, on the 40th Anniversary of when Synchronized Swimming first made it's inagural appearance in the 1984 Olympic Games at Los Angeles. And, if 'Coincidence' has its way, Los Angeles may very well be the chosen host City to see Synchronized Swimming come full circle for the 2024 Paralympic Games.
For more information/registration for the Spain AWD Camp, please contact Coach Albertina Onsea at: albertinao@gmail.com. Space is limited and registration will end on Nov. 22nd.
