This weekend from May 31-June 1, a grand aquatic rehearsal takes place at the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing and Marathon Swimming Park in Beijing (CHN). There, approximately 72 athletes from an estimated 32 countries and regions will gather to compete in either the Good Luck Beijing 2008 Olympic Games 10km Marathon Swimming Qualification race, or in the separate invitational 10km race beginning 20mins after the main event. All will be among the first to swim the newly-constructed course where the first ever Olympic 10km marathon swimming event will take place come Games time, but only a few will earn the right to return in August.

The final Olympic marathon swimming qualifier

This event is of special importance for several reasons. Primarily, some of the athletes on site will be seeking a berth to the inaugural Olympic 10km marathon swimming event this August. For those who missed gaining Olympic qualification through the 10km race held at the 5th FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships in Seville (ESP) from May 3-8 (either through a top-10 finish or through continental representation procedures), this is the last chance to do it. As such, the race will be emotionally-charged and will represent the chance of a lifetime for some, as those who make the select list of 25 Beijing-bound marathon swimmers will go down in history as the first Olympians of this discipline.

A great experience, and a great chance to practice

For others, the event is special because it is simply a chance to experience competing on an Olympic site, the place where their fellow athletes, the best in the world, will seek glory and the highest athletic honour. For up-and-coming open water swimmers, it’s an opportunity to test their skills against in a thrilling environment against other elite-level international swimmers. Also, for those who have already earned Olympic qualification, this race will be a unique chance to test the Olympic course in advance of the big event in August. Regardless of the athletes’ motives, the races will be both entertaining and exciting.

A trial-run for the new park

And of course, this event is crucial for organisers of the Beijing Olympic Games to try-out their beautiful new Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing and Marathon Swimming Park facilities. BOCOG Officials have been vocal in their praise of the park since its completion and have made special efforts to welcome participants, athletes, volunteers, technical officials, dignitaries and spectators to the event. Even the surrounding areas have been upgraded in preparation. Roads in the Shunyi District, for example, where the park is located, have been upgraded and expanded. The aqua-park itself, located to the east of the Chaobai River, has a planned area of about 162.59 hectares.

The competitors

The preliminary list of competitors indicates the races will be intense. Just to name a few to watch in the women’s field, Chloe Sutton and Kirsten Groome from the USA will be seeking a solid result, as well as Kristel Kobrich (CHI), Andreina and Yanel Pinto from Venezuela, Alejandra Gonzalez and Imelda Martinez of Mexico, Rita Kovacs and Erika Hajnal of Hungary, and Teja Zupan (SLO), who finished a very respectable 13th in Seville. Melissa Gorman (AUS) and Poliana Okimoto (BRA) are also expected to compete, both of whom have qualified for Beijing.

In the men’s field, Diego Nogueira (ESP), the 12th place finisher in Seville, will swim, as well as the legendary Petar Stoychev (BUL), Damian Blaum (ARG), Luis Escobar (MEX), Jakub Fichtl and Rostislav Vitek (CZE), and Chad Ho (RSA). Additionally, a Chinese group of swimmers will be looking to impress at home, including Li Xue in the women’s field, and Lijun Zu among the men. The women’s races take place on Saturday, May 31 at 9am for the qualifier and 9:20am for the invitational. The men’s races take place the following day at the same times.

(Credit: FINA)