The second Southeast Asia (SEA) Open Water Swimming Championship is taking place at the beach in Jimbaran, hosted by the InterContinental Bali Resort. Dozens of athletes from four countries are participating: Singapore (17 people), Malaysia (10 people), Thailand (17 people), and Indonesia (44 people).
In addition to the competitions for professional swimmers, a Water Sports Festival is planned for Sunday (June 30), which will also be open to tourists.
Detailed championship schedule:
- Friday (June 28) - 5-kilometer races for men and women
- Saturday (June 29) - 10-kilometer races for men and women
- Sunday (June 30) - 4x1.5-kilometer relay races for men and women
After the professionals finish their races, an open water swimming festival will begin, featuring hundreds of participants, including tourists visiting Bali at that time. Participants of all ages are welcome. Registration is open to anyone aged 12 to 70. Competitors will race distances of 500 meters, 1 kilometer, 1.5 kilometers, and 3 kilometers. The event starts at 10:00 AM.
Registration can be done in person at the InterContinental Bali Resort. The working hours of the responsible personnel are available there. Although some websites report that all spots are already taken, it was initially planned to accommodate 300 participants, but 350 have already registered.
Participants who secure a spot are allowed to bring fins and other equipment for faster breaststroke and freestyle.
Jimbaran Beach was chosen not only for its convenient entry into relatively calm waters but also for its beautiful sunsets and wide selection of seafood. The aim of the event is not only to determine the fastest and most skilled swimmer but also to attract guests. Balinese officials hope that this event will draw even more travelers to Jimbaran.
The SEA OWS (Open Water Swimming) Championship is being held for the second time. It was first conducted in Putrajaya (Malaysia) from February 2-4, 2023. Harlin Erlianto Rahardjo, Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian General Council for Water Sports, noted that it is a great honor for Indonesia to host swimming, diving, and water polo competitions in 2024.
Moreover, for Indonesian athletes, the championship will serve as the first qualifying round to join the national team for the 2025 Sea Games.
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