(MVA) – Members of China’s Guangzhou Tianhe District Swimming Association embarked on a whirlwind five-day tour of Saipan, highlighted by their first-ever “SWIM in The Marianas” event on December 2.
Organized in partnership with the Marianas Visitors Authority, the swim marked the association’s debut in the islands.
Forty-five swimmers braved the Saipan lagoon, tackling a one kilometer stretch that began from the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan beachside. Amid mild mid-afternoon swells, some swimmers completed the full course, while others leisurely enjoyed the warm water, taking plenty of pictures, conversing, and celebrating with good cheer.
“Our group normally swims in lakes or along the coastline, but we’ve never had the experience of swimming in the middle of the Pacific Ocean before,” said Hui Dong Swimming Sports Association Vice President Yang Dong Hai, representing the swimming association and speaking through an interpreter. “The quality of the water was very clean, the ocean had many colors, and we even encountered small fish.”
The group also took advantage of other opportunities to enjoy Saipan’s waters, including a swim to one of the islands’ iconic World War II tanks just hours before the main 1-kilometer event. Yang added the group was especially delighted to encounter sea turtles during their boat ride to Managaha the following day. Their itinerary also included an island tour and a sightseeing flight over Saipan.
The swimmers were kept safe under the watchful eyes of the Department of Public Safety Boating Safety, 500 Sails, and Capt. Nite’s Boat Charter. Additional support was provided by the U.S. Coast Guard Saipan Office, the Dept. of Fire & Emergency Medical Services, Saipan International School, and Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan. The Division of Fish & Wildlife contributed to an educational brochure on Saipan’s marine life to further enrich the group’s experience in the archipelago.
The Guangzhou Tianhe District Swimming Association has hosted large-scale open-water swim events across Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Korea, and Russia, with as many as 2,000 participants. The association’s mission is to promote wellness and camaraderie through aquatic activities, and it is hoped that this month’s inaugural swim will lead to further Marianas events in the future.
“Thanks to the strong support of our partners, SWIM in the Marianas was a success, as evidenced by the smiles on the participants’ faces,” said MVA Managing Director Jamika R. Taijeron. “As with the MVA’s other sporting events, we hope to continue welcoming swimmers from China, and will continue our partnership and coordination with the swimming association to expand the opportunity.”
With “SWIM in the Marianas” now complete, the MVA has turned its attention to the Hell of the Marianas century cycle tomorrow (Dec. 6), a 100KM bike race with over 100 registered participants from eight countries and territories to date.
