Taipei, Sept. 3 (CNA) Over 1,600 athletes successfully competed in the waters of Sun Moon Lake on Saturday, kicking off the return of the annual Sun Moon Lake Swimming Carnival, which was canceled in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 19.
According to the Nantou County Government, Saturday’s events, the 8th Sun Moon Open Lake Swimming Championship and the 3rd SUP Stand-up Paddle Boarding Tournament respectively, were the two competitions that herald the official carnival that is planned to develop. Sunday.
The county government added that as Typhoon Hinnamnor approached Taiwan, Saturday was a bright and sunny day with over 1,600 swimmers and paddlers competing at Sun Moon Lake.
Deputy District Magistrate Chen Cheng-sheng (陳正昇) opened the events with a speech, stating that the events also helped stress test the district’s COVID-19 response protocols for the upcoming carnival.
He went on to appreciate the event staff and participating athletes for their efforts in abiding by the COVID-19 restrictions.
Sunday’s Sun Moon Lake International Swimming Carnival is one of the world’s largest mass-participation open water swimming events, with 20,000 seats for this year’s event, the county government said earlier.
During the registration period for the event, Chen also announced that participants will have to adhere to certain rules, including receiving three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine if they are 12 years old or older.
Children between the ages of 8 and 11 were required to have received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, Chen said, adding that the inoculations must have been done before July 15.
Participants were also required to provide evidence of a negative rapid antigen test on Friday, and they must have no symptoms of illness such as fever and cough before entering the water on Sunday.
Swimmers in the event will be required to wear a face mask at all times except when in the water, Chen said.
Registration for the 2022 event is open to healthy individuals aged 8-75, including foreign nationals living and working in Taiwan.
The annual Sun Moon Lake International Swimming Carnival was first held in 1983 and is usually held around the time of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Covering a distance of approximately three kilometers, the event was officially inducted into the World Swimming Hall of Fame in 2002.
