Singapore will be the first country in Asia to host the 12th edition of the World Para Swimming Championships in 2025.
On 5 February, World Para Swimming (WPS) and the Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC) unveiled Singapore as the host city for the event.
The Championships, which is the highest ranked Para swimming event outside the Paralympic Games, will take place at the world-class OCBC Aquatic Centre within the Singapore Sports Hub, from 3 October to 9 October 2025.
Singapore will also host the World Aquatics Championships from July to August 2025.
Said Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, and Second Minister for Law, “Hosting the World Para Swimming Championships is a significant milestone for the disability sport community in Singapore.
“It will enable our Team Singapore athletes to compete against the world’s top para swimmers on home ground, and inspire Singaporeans, as they witness the competition up close.”
Added Craig Nicholson, Head of World Para Swimming, “This is a major milestone for our sport and is also evidence of the growth of Para swimming in the country and the region.
“Singapore hosted the Citi Para Swimming World Series for the first time in 2019 and since then we have had the opportunity to see first-hand the great work of the Singapore Disability Sports Council, providing opportunities and breaking barriers for persons with disabilities in society.”
Singapore has successfully hosted international Para swimming events in recent years, in particular the Citi Para Swimming World Series in both 2019 and 2023.
It remains the sole Asian destination on the tour in 2024.
The biennial World Para Swimming Championships, most recently hosted in 2023 in Manchester, United Kingdom, is anticipated to draw approximately 600 elite Para swimmers from over 60 nations to the vibrant garden city.
Para swimming has been a consistent stronghold for Team Singapore, producing Paralympic medalists and world record holders such as Yip Pin Xiu and Theresa Goh.
Additionally, Asian medalist Toh Wei Soong, Asian record holder Sophie Soon and numerous ASEAN Para Games medalists have contributed to the nation’s rich para swimming legacy.
Beyond elite competition, the SDSC also welcomes nearly 100 individuals with physical, visual and intellectual disabilities to its national championships annually.
Dr Teo-Koh Sock Miang, President of the SDSC, expressed, “We envision this landmark event propelling Singapore onto the global stage as a country that commits to empower individuals of all abilities.
“With the generous support of Sport Singapore and the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, we aim to reach out to more Singaporeans through the awareness and partnerships that will be fostered by this event.
“The 2025 World Para Swimming Championships promise to be an unforgettable celebration of diversity, athleticism, and community.”
NEW PARA SWIMMING LEARN-TO-SWIM PROGRAMME
As part of the leadup to the Championships, a new Para swimming learn-to-swim programme, called “SwimTogether”, was also introduced by the SDSC.
Developed by WPS, Singapore would be one of the first countries globally to launch the curriculum, with workshops commencing in May 2024 alongside the Citi Para Swimming World Series Singapore.
The SDSC aims to equip more local swim coaches with the skills and confidence to welcome individuals with disabilities into the world of swimming.
Singaporeans can also look forward to other ways to learning about Para swimming as the nation gets ready for the big event in 2025.
PHOTOS: SDSC/ANDY CHUA
