Gambia Swimming & Aquatic Sports Association (GSASA) will tomorrow, Saturday held its first Regional Open Water Swimming Championship of the year at Barra, North Bank Region.
The 1.5kilometer competition set to get underway at 3pm is expected to attract over 50 swimmers, according to organisers.
The championship is aimed at bring together swimmers from the region to demonstrate their marathon swimming skills, added the organisers who also said that the competition will them the opportunity to scout out for good open water swimmers for the National Open Water Team.
It is also done to promote, encourage, organise and develop Open Water Swimming and other related aquatic activities in all the seven regions of The Gambia as well as to boost the morale and instill confidence and courage in young Gambians, further said the organisers.
The exercise is also meant to reduce the number of deaths /fatal accidents registered during Sunday Beach activities among others; as well as for those who think they can swim and end up drowning or losing their lives attempting to save others.
The regional competitions will provide opportunities for specialised marathon swimmers to start competing at standardised FINA Open Water competition rules and regulations.
The initiative would also expand the membership of the association in all the seven regions, in anticipation of creating mass participation in swimming.