Singapore Shines as Host of 2025 World Aquatics Championships

Singapore is currently hosting the 22nd World Aquatics Championships from July 11 to August 3, 2025, marking the first time a Southeast Asian city has hosted this prestigious event. The Championships feature 77 medal events across six aquatic sports: swimming, diving, water polo, artistic swimming, open water swimming, and high diving. Over 2,500 athletes from more than 203 national federations are participating.

The decision to host the Championships in Singapore came after the original host city, Kazan, Russia, was stripped of its hosting rights due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. On February 9, 2023, Singapore was selected as the replacement host, highlighting its growing prominence in the international sports arena.

Competitions are being held at various venues, including the Singapore Sports Hub and Sentosa Island. Notably, a temporary venue, the World Aquatics Championships Arena, has been constructed at Car Park G to host swimming and artistic swimming events. This temporary venue has a capacity of 4,800 people and includes two pools, spectator stands, and a fan zone with interactive activities, merchandise areas, sponsor stands, and food and beverage stalls.

The Championships have already seen significant events, such as Germany's Florian Wellbrock winning the men's 10km open water race on July 16, 2025. Wellbrock, 27, completed the race in 1:59:55.50, earning his seventh global gold in open water swimming. He attributed his success to a year of heat training, helping him cope with the exceptionally warm water conditions.

The theme for this year's Championships is "Water Shapes Us," emphasizing the integral role of water in human life and culture. The official mascots are Ollie the otter and Dewey the dugong, chosen to represent Singapore's rich aquatic biodiversity.

The 2025 Championships have introduced several innovations:

• AI-Powered Motion Tracking: Implemented in swimming events for real-time performance analysis.

• Eco-Friendly Policies: Including water recycling systems and plastic-free zones to promote sustainability.

• Digital Fan Engagement: Features like interactive live stats, multilingual commentary, and 3D venue tours enhance the spectator experience.

The Championships are being broadcast worldwide through various rights-holding broadcasters, including NBC Sports in the United States, CBC in Canada, and Mediacorp in Singapore. Additionally, events are streamed on the World Aquatics website, ensuring global accessibility.

Hosting the Championships has significant implications for Singapore:

• Sports Diplomacy: Elevates Singapore's status as a global sports hub and showcases its capability to host large-scale international events.

• Economic Impact: Boosts tourism and local businesses, with sponsorships from national partners like Mazda and Pan Pacific Hotels Group contributing approximately $5 million.

• Community Engagement: Initiatives aim to inspire youth participation in aquatic sports and promote environmental sustainability.

As the Championships continue, Singapore's successful hosting of the event is anticipated to leave a lasting legacy, inspiring future generations and reinforcing the nation's commitment to aquatic sports.