2018 Swim-across-Pearl River event to kick off on Friday

Nearly 2,000 keen swimmers will goggle up and dive into the Pearl River on July 13 for Guangzhou's annual tradition of swim-across-the Pearl River event.

The keen swimmers will start at 13:30 from Zhongda Wharf and finish at Xinghai Concert Hall. 

Swimmers from Baiyun district of Guangzhou attend a training session at a local swimming pool. [Photo/byss.by.gov.cn]

The swim across an 800-meter stretch of the river has become one of the major annual sports events held in the Guangdong province capital and a good example for promoting fitness nationwide. It has attracted swimmers from across Guangdong cities such as Guangzhou, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhaoqing, Qingyuan and Zhongshan.

According to the organizing committee, all swimmers need to be from 15 to 55 and have the ability and the skills to complete a 2,000-meter course within 80 minutes.

Swimmers from Zengcheng district take physical fitness tests to qualify. [Photo/gz.gov.cn]

A total of 56 lifeboats have been deployed for emergency rescue on the river, each with two or three professional lifeguards and necessary life-saving equipment.

A swim drill will be carried out at the venue tomorrow afternoon.