Last weekend, the heated pool at the Codelco El Teniente Stadium Sports Centre welcomed 50 boys and girls born in 2009, 2010 and 2011 who took part in the first stage of the regional swimming competition qualifying for the national school championship.

While it was raining heavily outside, inside the venue participants from Graneros, Rengo, Requínoa, Machalí, San Fernando and Pichilemu, among other communities, competed in the 50 and 100 meter freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly; 400 meter freestyle; and 200 meter medley.

The activity, organized by the National Sports Institute of the O'Higgins Region, in collaboration with Codelco División El Teniente through its "Quality of Life" program and the O'Higgins Swimming Association, was the first stage of the final selection that will take place in Graneros and that will define the delegation of 16 women and 16 men who will go to the national tournament to be held in the Biobío region.

“We are proud and privileged that the El Teniente Division provides us with its facilities to develop tournaments or training sessions in an excellent venue that has a first-class swimming pool. We are grateful that they put this space at the service of the region's athletes,” said Eliara Klein, regional manager of sports, competition and high performance of the Ministry of Sports in O'Higgins.

Sandra Vidal, a judge from the International Swimming Federation who was in charge of certifying the competition, said that “it is very important that a swimming pool with unique characteristics in the region is used as a venue for school championships. It is an excellent initiative.”

Among the outstanding participants of the day were the twins representing the Saint John English School, Clemente and Domingo Acevedo, 1.81 metres tall and who turned 14 on Sunday 23 July; and Trinidad Espinoza, 12 years old, representing Graneros.

Ronald Morales, coach of the Pichilemu team, highlighted the level of the facilities at El Teniente. “They are spectacular and the boys and girls appreciate them because they feel comfortable and motivated. I wish there were this type of infrastructure in all the provinces,” said the coach.

“El Teniente’s Quality of Life program opens Codelco’s spaces and assets to boys and girls who are interested in practicing sports and thus achieves the triple value (economic, social and environmental) that the Division promotes,” explained Emerson Contreras, coordinator of the program on behalf of the Corporation.