By Jean Malanum
MANILA – China’s capital city of Beijing will host the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) next year.
More than 1,000 athletes from over 200 countries and regions are expected to join the six-day event, to be held in China for the third time. The 2006 edition took place in Shanghai and the 2018 edition in Hangzhou.
The announcement was made during the World Aquatics General Congress being held alongside the World Aquatics Championship and World Aquatics Masters Championships in Singapore.
Beijing has demonstrated excellence in hosting top-level competitions. It is the first city to host both the Summer and Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games – in 2008 and 2022, respectively.
Beijing is also set to host the World Aquatics Championships in 2029.
“We are thrilled and deeply honored to host the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) in 2026 in Beijing, a city with a proud Olympic history and a passion for aquatic sports,” China Swimming Association president Zhou Jihong said in a press statement on the World Aquatics official website Tuesday.
“This prestigious competition brings together the world’s best swimmers, and with the remarkable number of World Records broken at the last edition, we anticipate another great spectacle. We look forward to welcoming swimming fans from around the globe and providing an unforgettable experience for all.”
China has hosted 109 World Aquatics events, including the 2011 World Aquatics Championships in Shanghai.
“I can’t wait to compete at the World Swimming Championships in Beijing,” said Pan Zhanle, the World and Olympic champion and men’s 100m freestyle long-course world record-holder.
“The atmosphere and energy of short-course racing, combined with the intensity of a championship event, will create an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience. With so many records falling at the 2024 short-course Worlds, I aim to add my name to that list in 2026 in front of my home fans. Hearing that this prestigious event is coming to China in 2026 is exciting, and I know the fans will bring amazing support.”
World Aquatics is the international governing body for aquatic sports. It supervises six aquatic sports – swimming, water polo, diving, artistic swimming, open water swimming, and high diving. (PNA)
