All spots in the individual event were filled within 24 hours of opening applications for the first race of the newly introduced "Odin Rashah" series by Swim Maldives.
Swim Maldives, which organized the largest international swimming event held in the Maldives to date, will hold the first series of the newly launched "Odin Rashah" race in Vilimale'.
The club stated that when applications opened last Monday to participate in the race to be held on October 3, all spots in the individual category were filled within 24 hours. The individual category consists of 50 spots.
According to the private club promoting swimming in the Maldives, only five spots now remain out of the 25 open spots in the team relay.
Swim Maldives stated that this is a swimming competition formulated in connection with a historical Maldivian tradition.
"Before harbors were built in Maldivian islands, the way to get onto an island was to jump off the vessel and swim ashore. Especially young people wouldn't get ashore on a dinghy or a small boat due to the habit of swimming ashore. We developed that concept into a race format," said a Swim Maldives official.
- Individual Race: After a boat carrying swimmers goes out 500 meters to sea from the shore, the whistle will blow, whereupon the swimmers will jump off and swim back to shore. The first person to step onto the island is the champion of that race.
- Team Relay: Once the swimmer on shore swims out to the boat, their teammate on the boat jumps in, and both swim back together to step onto the island. The first team to step ashore together is the champion team.
Opportunities for Beginners: Beginner swimmers can also swim using a kickboard, noodles, or fins.
Swim Maldives stated that its goal is to bring the joy of open water swimming to as many people as possible.
As with other races by Swim Maldives, the club noted that a rescue team will be active in four canoes for safety measures during the "Odin Rashah" race as well.
According to Swim Maldives, some islands view the absence of a swimming pool in their islands as the biggest obstacle to hosting swimming competitions.
However, the club stated that the concept of the "Odin Rashah" race will provide a solution to holding swimming competitions in islands as well.
"Since all that is needed is a boat and a beach, this race can be held on any island in the Maldives. The intention is to expand this race to other islands," the club official said.
According to Swim Maldives, the club's vision is for the champion of each island to qualify for the atoll competition, and for the top 10 swimmers of the atoll competition to qualify for the national "Odin Rashah" competition to select a national champion.
The Vilimale' race is the first race being held under this concept. Swim Maldives stated that the club is working to hold three more races in this series within this year.
The club requests interested councils or clubs to contact Swim Maldives for this purpose.
