Previous Story
7th Annual Swimming Festival on June 20
The 7th Annual Swimming Festival–formerly the Saipan International Open Water Flipper Tournament—will be held on June 20, 2015, at a new location on Saipan—Pau Pau Beach.
The Marianas Visitors Authority is inviting all swimmers and snorkelers to discover the underwater wonders of Saipan’s western lagoon with a 1.5K flipper race, a 500m swim, 1.5KM swim, or 2KM relay.
“The Swimming Festival is one of our newer annual signature events, and one that highlights our beautiful waters,” said MVA Community Projects manager Martin Duenas. “We’ve moved the event this year to Pau Pau Beach to ease logistical preparations and to make the event easily accessible to more participants.”
Thirty-three participants from Japan, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands joined the event last year, with another 19 participants joining the 500m and 1,500m group swim.
The flipper race requires swimmers to use wetsuits or life jacket and fins along with mask and snorkels. The race will begin at 6am, followed by an island-style breakfast and awards ceremony at the beach.
The cost is $25 for Northern Mariana Islands residents with valid ID. The deadline to register with the MVA is June 19, 2015. Mandatory orientation will be held from 4:30pm to 6:30pm on June 19, 2015; the venue will be announced. Participants must be in good health with snorkeling ordiving experience.
The event is jointly organized by the MVA and the Community Sports Center Foundation of Japan.
For more information or to register, visit the MVA Events Calendar at www.mymarianas.com or call Ed Diaz at 664-3210. (MVA)
