Formula 1, the HSBC Women’s World Championship, Singapore Tennis Open – much like how the biggest names in the music industry have made Singapore a landing point for their world tours, the sporting industry’s most prestigious events have also become major fixtures in the country’s sporting calendar.
This July, Singapore will play host to yet another world-class sporting event – one that is expected to attract about 40,000 visitors and rake in an estimated $60 million in tourism receipts.
The World Aquatics Championships will make its South-east Asian debut in Singapore from July 11 to Aug 3, 2025. The biennial competition was last held in Doha, Qatar in 2024.
Over 2,500 athletes from more than 190 countries are expected to descend upon Singapore to participate in six aquatic disciplines held across Singapore.
According to the event’s organisers, all hands are on deck to ensure that the games are hosted in spaces befitting of their stature.
Preparations are well underway, with a new 4,800-seater World Aquatics Championships Arena being constructed within the Singapore Sports Hub to host swimming and artistic swimming. Construction for the Sentosa venue, which will host open water swimming and high diving, is set to begin in May.
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Organising committee co-chairperson and former national swimmer Mark Chay says: “With the transformation of these venues into spaces for high-level competition and spectating, Singapore will be able to highlight our status as the destination for hosting top, international sporting events.”
Something for everyone
Beyond a showcase of sporting pedigree and hosting prowess, the World Aquatics Championships is also an event that organisers hope will ignite a passion for aquatic sports among Singaporeans, regardless of their swimming abilities.
The World Aquatics Masters Championships, which runs in parallel to the main event from July 26 to Aug 22, 2025, will invite recreational swimmers, former athletes and fitness enthusiasts, aged 25 to 80 and above, to compete in their respective age categories on the same prestigious stages as the world champions. Some 6,000 Masters competitors from Singapore and around the world are expected to try their hand at elite competition.
For those who prefer a less competitive approach, the SG60 Swim Challenge will run from April to June 2025. This nationwide initiative welcomes swimmers of all abilities to participate by forming teams of four to 10 to complete 60 laps, or swimming up to six laps daily as individuals during the event period.
All these laps help participants accumulate points and stand a chance at redeeming prizes such as staycation packages and championship merchandise. The challenge also encourages participants to make a meaningful impact to the community by donating to SportCares through the GameOn SG60 web application. Donations to SportCares will help make sport more accessible to vulnerable members of society.
There are also multiple platforms where aquatics fans and those new to the sport alike can learn more about the competition, meet Team Singapore athletes and even leave their mark in history. The Trash to Treasure school initiative, for example, will collect aluminium cans from schools, which will then be processed into competition medals.
Alan Goh, co-chairperson of the World Aquatics Championships – Singapore 2025 organising committee, says: “Whether you are joining as a spectator or participating in our community programmes, the championships will have something for you,” he says.
He notes that this major sporting event also coincides with Singapore’s SG60 festivities, creating a dual opportunity to commemorate national achievements alongside exhilarating wins in the pool.
“We hope that the spirit and buzz of these championships will leave us a strong legacy that continues to elevate aquatics in Singapore and our region for years to come.”
Even for those content with spectating, there will be plenty to look forward to across the swimming, artistic swimming, water polo, diving and open water swimming events in the World Aquatics Championships and World Aquatics Masters Championships.
Chay emphasises that the Championships is not just about elite competition, but also about bringing the joy of aquatics to all Singaporeans.
“By making the championships accessible to everyone – from seasoned athletes to casual swimmers – we are fostering a sense of community and inspiring a new generation of aquatics enthusiasts,” he adds.
The addition of the World Aquatics Championships to Singapore’s roster of world-class sporting events reinforces the nation’s position as a global sports hub, with co-organisers confident it will leave a lasting legacy for aquatics development in the region.
“The championships is one of the sport’s most watched events, featuring world and Olympic champions, as well as the next generation of rising stars. Getting to witness these athletes live in action is an opportunity that does not come by every day,” says Chay.
The World Aquatics Championships – Singapore 2025 will be held from July 11 to Aug 3; the Masters Championships will run from July 26 to Aug 22. Get your tickets here.
