The World Aquatics Championships – Singapore 2025 (WCH 2025) has begun, with Tharman Shanmugaratnam, President of the Republic of Singapore, officially declaring the event open on Thursday (10 July). President Tharman was Guest of Honour at the WCH 2025 opening ceremony, which was also attended by World Aquatics president Husain Al Musallam. Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth & Senior Minister of State for Education David Neo, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment of Singapore and President of Singapore National Olympic Council Grace Fu and Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs Edwin Tong were also present at the Singtel Waterfront Theatre.

Before the opening ceremony, athletes competing in WCH 2025 were treated to a scenic river cruise from Clarke Quay to Esplanade Jetty. The cruise took them past some of Singapore’s iconic landmarks, including Merlion Park and Marina Bay Sands. Spectators at the opening ceremony got to enjoy rousing performances by the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore, the Victoria Junior College Choir and the School of the Arts. Team Nila Beats, part of Sport Singapore’s national sport volunteerism movement and a recognisable presence at most sport events in Singapore, also made an appearance.

At the World Aquatics Championships – Singapore 2025, around 2,500 athletes are expected to compete in 77 medal events across six aquatic sports – swimming, artistic swimming, water polo, diving, high diving and open water swimming. The World Aquatics Masters Championships, which typically follow the elite Championships, will take place concurrently this year for the first time. More than 6,000 athletes aged 25 and above have signed up to participate in the World Aquatics Masters Championships. The event will feature five aquatic sports – swimming, artistic swimming, water polo, diving and open water swimming.

Feature Photo credit: Ministry of Digital Development and Information

The World Aquatics Championships – Singapore 2025 runs from 11th July to 22nd August 2025. More information available here

The full schedule for the World Aquatics Championships – Singapore 2025 can be found here. Details on ticketing can be found here, and information on the extensive global coverage of the event can be found here.