Singapore – With just 50 days to go, Singapore is buzzing with anticipation for the 22nd World Aquatics Championships, set to take place from July 11 to August 3, 2025. This event holds historical significance as it marks the first time Southeast Asia will host the pinnacle competition organized by World Aquatics.
Over 2,500 athletes from 210 World Aquatics National Federations are expected to compete fiercely for a total of 77 medal events across six aquatic disciplines: swimming, diving, water polo, artistic swimming, open water swimming, and high diving. Following the successful hosting of the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in November 2024, Singapore is accelerating its preparations for these upcoming World Championships. The Local Organising Committee (LOC) is in the final stages of checking logistics and infrastructure, while actively building local excitement for the global spectacle.
Global Event Powered by Regional Partnerships and Community Engagement
In late 2024, the Singapore 2025 Organising Committee unveiled a strong lineup of local partners, securing sponsorship commitments totaling approximately S$5 million. Pan Pacific Hotels Group joined as the Official Hotel Partner, Trans-Eurokars Mazda as the Official Automotive Partner, and OCBC Bank as the Official Financial Partner. They were also joined by travel platform Trip.com and sustainability firm MVGX, with MVGX specifically supporting the event's environmental initiatives.
Recently, eight additional partners were announced: ION Orchard, CapitaLand, Singapore Airlines, Fullerton Health, Jewel Changi Airport, Kin Productions, SISTIC, and Westpoint Transit. These new additions have significantly boosted the total sponsorship for the 2025 World Aquatics Championships to over S$16 million.
Mark Chay, Co-Chairman of the Singapore 2025 Organising Committee, expressed his delight, stating, "These companies are highly regarded both locally and internationally, and we are very pleased to have them on board to enhance the event experience for both athletes and spectators. This event is also part of Singapore's 60th National Day celebrations, and we are extremely encouraged by the strong support from local corporations leading up to this significant occasion."
Beyond the strong corporate backing, Singapore 2025 is building momentum through a series of community roadshows designed to ignite public interest in aquatics sports and encourage participation at all levels. The first roadshow, launched on May 9 at ION Orchard, offered visitors interactive experiences to test their swimming and water polo skills and imagine the thrill of standing on a 27-meter high diving platform.
Olympic champion Joseph Schooling and former national swimmer and local musician Benjamin Kheng led spirited aquatics-themed challenges as team captains. They were joined by Singapore national water polo players Lee Kai Yang, Abielle Yeo, Nicole Lim, Rochelle Ong, Cayden Loh, and Dominic Chan, who engaged with the crowds, adding to the vibrant, family-friendly atmosphere.
Eight more roadshows are scheduled at various shopping malls in the lead-up to the championships, providing the public with opportunities to experience aquatic sports firsthand. The final roadshow will take place at Kallang Wave Mall from July 11 to August 22, coinciding with the World Aquatics Championships and Masters Championships. The full schedule for the Singapore 2025 Community Roadshows can be found on the official website.
Two Key Hubs, One Global Stage
The competitions will primarily unfold across two main venues: the World Aquatics Championships Arena (WCH Arena) and the OCBC Aquatic Centre within the Singapore Sports Hub. These two downtown venues will host the swimming, diving, water polo, and artistic swimming events. Open water swimming and high diving, however, will take place along the picturesque coastline of Sentosa Island, promising thrilling competitions amidst natural scenery.
The temporary WCH Arena, being constructed adjacent to Leisure Park Kallang Mall, is being developed in close collaboration with government authorities to meet all safety and sustainability protocols. This purpose-built facility, along with the OCBC Aquatic Centre, will host the SEA Age Group Championships from June 18 to 27, 2025. This event will provide the public with a chance to witness live aquatic action before the global spectacle, while also serving as a crucial operational readiness test for the organizers.
These preparations follow the successful hosting of the 2024 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup, which provided the Organising Committee with invaluable experience in executing major international aquatic events.
Co-Chairman Mark Chay emphasized, "The World Aquatics Championships Singapore 2025 is a much larger event, and it was important for our team and our partners across various agencies to start this process well in advance. The Singapore 2025 team will comprise over 6,000 personnel, including staff and volunteers." The Organising Committee is meticulously checking preparations across all functional areas for seamless execution, demonstrating Singapore's commitment to delivering a world-class event.
A Legacy Beyond the Competition for Singapore
Sustainability is a cornerstone of Singapore 2025. A flagship "Trash to Treasure" initiative means that 5,000 medals for both the World Aquatics Championships and World Aquatics Masters Championships will be crafted from recycled aluminum cans. Students from five pre-schools, eight primary schools, and three secondary schools collected nearly 100,000 cans, exemplifying how sports can foster environmental awareness and community involvement from a young age.
As the first Southeast Asian host of the World Aquatics Championships, Singapore aims to inspire a new generation of aquatic athletes in the region. Young athletes participating in the SEA Age Group Championships will compete in the same facilities as elite athletes, an extremely rare and inspiring opportunity.
Co-Chairman Mark Chay stated, "We hope this will inspire future generations of aquatic athletes and strengthen the aquatic foundations of Southeast Asia."
By providing a platform for elite competition, sustainable innovation, and youth engagement, the World Aquatics Championships Singapore 2025 promises to deliver not only unforgettable moments in the pool but also a lasting legacy for the sport and the region. This historic event is scheduled to kick off on July 11 at 9 AM with the women's water polo competition.
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