National swim-in-schools programme starts

Grade one Papaaroa College students were wide eyed as they received brand new Arena swimming goggles for the start of the swim-in-schools programme.

Cook Islands Aquatic Federation members were thrilled to launch the programme at the Titikaveka School where Oceania Swimming Association president Dennis Miller was on hand to see the programme get off the ground.

Miller has been instrumental in helping CIAF develop swim programmes and importantly helping source funds to run important grassroots programmes such as the swim-in-schools course.

Before taking to the water – the excited Papaaroa kids received a pair of flash goggles and important lessons on how to look after and wear the swim gear.

On hand to share this information and get the kids enthused about swimming was CIAF development officer Augustine Kopa.

The swim-in-schools programme will run over seven weeks as teachers recently qualified at a swim coach’s course will deliver the programme at their respective schools.

CIAF president Romani Katoa is pleased to have Arena, a water wear brand, on board to help with the development of swimming in the Cook Islands and added that the launch of the grassroots programme was a ‘special day’ for the federation.

He says that an initial order of some 550 Arena goggles have been received for the start of the swim-in-schools programme which will see around 2000 Rarotonga kids learn to swim properly.

Miller commented that the very programme being launched was a topic of discussion at recent Oceania swim roundtable meetings and he was pleased to be on the island to see the programme get off the ground.

Katoa and the CIAF members would like to thank Miller for being part of the special day and to Papaaroa College for their enthusiasm in taking on the programme.