Tanje to host second regional open water swimming

Author- FATOUMATTA SAHO

In their drive to decentralize the sport of swimming across the country, the Gambia Swimming and Aquatic Sports Association will organized its second regional open water swimming competition in Tanjai west coast region on the Saturday 21 of April 2012. The competition is open for male and female swimmers above the age of 14 years.

According to the Secretary General of the Association, Yoro Njie, this competition is purely restricted to swimmers living in the region, noting that other regions will equally have their chance to select their best swimmers for the national open water championship 2012.

Mr. Njie added that the interested swimmers should call the technical committee members and register, as late registration will not be considered.

He revealed that open water is both for the youngsters and old people in FINA's disciplines.

The aim and objectives of the competition, he said is to bring together all the swimmers in every region to demonstrate their marathon swimming skills, as this will help the association to scout out for good open water swimmers for the national open water team. “This will expand the membership of the association in all the regions, in anticipation of creating mass participation in swimming”.

“We also want to promote, encourage, organize and develop Open Water Swimming and other related aquatic activities in all the different regions of The Gambia, he said.

He said the championship will bust the morale and instill confidence and encourage in the young Gambians that love our beaches, Sunday beaches in particular, as this will reduce the number of deaths, fatal accidents registered during Sunday beach events and other beach activities.

The regional competition he said will provide opportunities for specialized marathon swimmers to start competing at the standardized FINA open water competition rules and regulations.

In Beijin, he said, swimming will be the fifth sport under the guardianship of the international swimming federation to join the Olympic family when the inaugural 10km marathon swim unfolds on August 20, 2008, but the journey actually began in ancient times.