Athletes and officials are arriving in Ilocos Norte, approximately 24 hours to go until the formal opening of the 71stAmateur Rowing Association of the East (ARAE) and Far East Amateur Rowing Association (FEARA) International Rowing Regatta, now branded as the 1st International Paoay Regatta. The first batch to arrive through the Laoag International Airport (LIA) consisted of participants representing India’s Bengal Rowing Club, Calcutta Rowing Club, College of Engineering, Pune Rowing Club, College of Military Engineering, Pune Rowing Club, Pakistan’s Karachi Boat Club, Sri Lanka’s Colombo Rowing Club, Singapore’s Easter Rowing Club and the Philippines’ Manila Boat Club (MBC), the host of the event. Meanwhile, officials of MBC and of ARAE-FEARA and participants representing other rowing clubs from India, namely the Madras Boat Club and the Rowing Center are arriving on Jan. 14, at LIA. The teams will be practicing until tomorrow, January 15 at the scenic Paoay Lake to prepare for the men’s, women’s and mixed singles, doubles, four and eight-scull rowing classes. Plaza Del Norte, one of the sponsors of the sporting event, will provide accommodation for the participants.—Grazielle Mae A. Sales, PGIN-CMO
