As part of Egypt’s growing sports tourism agenda, Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, Minister of Youth and Sports, officially inaugurated the opening round of the 2025 Open Water Swimming World Cup in Somabay, marking the third consecutive year Egypt has hosted this prestigious event. The tournament, held from February 18 to 22, 2025, builds on the success of previous editions, reinforcing Egypt’s status as a global hub for aquatic sports.
This year’s competition saw record-breaking participation, featuring 129 elite swimmers (73 men and 56 women) from 28 national federations, along with 16 relay teams from 10 countries the highest level of national representation in the event’s history. For the first time, swimmers from all continents took part, highlighting the tournament’s truly global appeal.
A Testament to Egypt’s Sporting Growth
Dr. Ashraf Sobhy emphasized Egypt’s commitment to hosting world-class sporting events, stating:
“The successful hosting of the 2025 Open Water Swimming World Cup in Somabay reflects the rapid development of Egypt’s sports infrastructure and reaffirms our capability to stage major international tournaments.”
The event’s continued success is a result of strong partnerships between World Aquatics, the Egyptian Swimming Federation, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, along with the private sector’s active role in supporting sports tourism.
Husain Al-Musallam, President of World Aquatics, praised Somabay’s consistently high standards, stating:
“Somabay’s ability to deliver a world-class competition environment year after year makes it a cornerstone of our global circuit. Egypt’s dedication to aquatic sports development is truly commendable.”
Similarly, Eng. Yasser Idris, President of the Egyptian Olympic Committee and the Egyptian Swimming Federation, highlighted the significance of state-private sector collaboration, adding:
“Egypt’s growing influence in the global aquatic sports community is evident through the continued success of this tournament, inspiring future generations of athletes.”
Egyptian Swimmers Eye the Future
Egypt’s participation in the junior national team category provided local swimmers with a chance to improve their global rankings. This initiative aligns with the federation’s long-term vision of preparing athletes for the 2028 and 2032 Olympic Games, focusing on developing and qualifying promising talent for future international competitions.
Somabay: A Premier Sports Destination
Eng. Ibrahim El-Missiri, CEO of Somabay, emphasized the strategic cooperation between the public and private sectors, stating:
“Hosting this prestigious event for the third consecutive year reflects our commitment to providing an ideal training and competition environment, further strengthening Egypt’s position as a global sports destination.”
The event officially kicked off on February 21 with the 10km Individual Races (men & women), followed by the 4×1.5km Mixed Relay on February 22. The men’s 10km race saw Germany’s Florian Wellbrock claim gold, with France’s Logan Fontaine and Marc-Antoine Olivier securing silver and bronze, respectively. In the women’s category, Australia’s Moesha Johnson took first place, followed by Italy’s Ginevra Taddeucci and Australia’s Chelsea Gubecka.
A World-Class Sports Arena
On the sidelines of the tournament, Dr. Sobhy toured the Somabay Sports Arena, a cutting-edge facility designed for elite training and competition. The multi-sport complex features:
Olympic & semi-Olympic swimming pools
Padel, squash, and grass tennis courts
A professional football pitch
A state-of-the-art gym & fitness studio
A running track for endurance training
Dr. Sobhy praised Egypt’s growing sports infrastructure, emphasizing that these top-tier facilities position Egypt as a leading host for international training camps and major global championships.
What’s Next?
Following the successful Egyptian leg, the 2025 Open Water Swimming World Cup will continue in:
Ibiza, Spain
Setúbal, Portugal
Golfo Aranci, Italy
The final location and date of the championship will be announced at a later stage.
For more real-time economic news, follow us on our Facebook page here:
The Economic Digest website is an online platform specifically designed to provide users with comprehensive summaries of the most important economic events occurring in global and regional markets.
