World Aquatics C'ships Singapore 2025 declared open by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam
Singapore's artistic swimmers posing with the mascots for the World Aquatics Championships Singapore 2025 - Ollie the Otter (extreme right) and Dewey the Dugong (extreme left).
SINGAPORE – The Esplanade, with its distinctive durian-shaped dome and prominence in Singapore's city skyline, has long stood as a symbol of the nation's cultural ambition.
On July 10, it set the stage for a different kind of spectacle as the Singtel Waterfront Theatre hosted the opening ceremony of the World Aquatics Championships (WCH), officially ushering in about three weeks of elite competition.
Held from July 11 to Aug 3, it marks a historic milestone for Singapore, the first South-east Asian country to stage the championships.
More than 2,500 athletes from over 200 countries and territories will compete across a record 77 medal events in swimming, artistic swimming, diving, high diving, open water swimming and water polo.
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam presided over the ceremony, which was also attended by World Aquatics president Husain Al-Musallam, Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo and Singapore National Olympic Council president Grace Fu, who is also Minister for Sustainability and the Environment.
Minister for Law Edwin Tong, who was previously the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, was also at the ceremony.
In a speech before he declared the WCH open, Mr Tharman noted that hosting the world championships was a special moment for Singapore, especially as it celebrates its 60th year of independence.
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Addressing those who made the event possible, he said: 'It is your dedication that has transformed it into a venue worthy of hosting this top world championships.
'To our guests and international friends, may you discover not just our venues and our food, including the chilli crab, but may you also discover the warmth of our people and the diversity that makes this island home to many cultures.'
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam delivering his speech at the opening ceremony of the World Aquatics Championship, at the Singtel Waterfront Theatre at the Esplanade, on July 10, 2025.
ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
Among the crowd of over 500 at the Singtel Waterfront Theatre were national artistic swimmers, open water swimmers and women's water polo players, who are part of Singapore's 72-strong delegation, the Republic's largest-ever contingent at the meet.
The ceremony, lasting just under an hour, featured performances celebrating excellence and unity, with the opening act Rainwoven performed by alumni from the School of the Arts, Singapore.
World Aquatics chief Husain noted that the WCH will break records for the number of participating countries and territories, and athletes – and, for the first time, feature more female athletes than male.
He said: 'Eighteen months (ago), when I came and I asked Singapore, can you host the World Aquatics (Championships)?
'I honestly did not believe that we will gather today with a fantastic facility, with fantastic hospitality, with fantastic enjoyment between our aquatics family.'
President of World Aquatics, Mr Husain Al-Musallam delivering his speech at the opening ceremony of the World Aquatics Championship, at the Singtel Waterfront Theatre at the Esplanade, on July 10, 2025.
ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong posted a video on his Facebook page, sharing that he visited the WCH Arena, where he spoke with former national swimmer Joseph Schooling, Singapore's only Olympic gold medallist, and two Singapore athletes.
In the video, Mr Wong said: 'It was inspiring to hear their stories – the hard work, the passion, and what it means to represent Singapore on home ground.
'Let's get behind our athletes and cheer for Team Singapore! A warm welcome also to all the athletes and fans from around the world!'
Beyond the world championships showcasing the globe's best aquatic athletes, Mr Tharman emphasised that such events also have the ability to unite.
He said: 'What we celebrate too, in a quiet but profound way, is how sport can bring us together, even when we are rooting for different teams.
'In a world increasingly divided, sport reminds us that we can strive together even as we compete, that we can demonstrate our common humanity.'
In line with the message of unity, the ceremony concluded with a drum piece by the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore titled Singa Roar, a multi-ethnic percussion piece comprising Chinese, Malay, Indian and Latino drums.
A drums performance by Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore at the opening ceremony of the World Aquatics Championship, at the Singtel Waterfront Theatre at the Esplanade, on July 10, 2025.
ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
As the WCH begins, it kicks off several months of aquatic action in Singapore, with the July 26-Aug 11 World Aquatics Masters Championships and the Sept 21-27 World Para Swimming Championships set to follow.
Just as the Esplanade helped define Singapore's cultural rise when it opened in 2002, the World Aquatics Championships may prove to be a pivotal moment in the country's sporting history.
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