Canakkale Rotary Club Dardanelles Swimming Competition, which is considered the oldest swimming competition in the world in Çanakkale, where the greatest epic of the glorious Turkish history was written, has been bringing international athletes together for 36 years in peace and well-being on the route drawn from Europe to the Asian continent. The swimmers competed in 28 different categories: General Classification, General Classification Women, General Classification Men, Paralympics and age categories. This year, 2 special athletes (swimmers), 6 disabled swimmers and Kürşat Tuzmen, a former Minister, participated in the competition. In addition, Aysu Türkoğlu, who holds the record for the first Turkish woman and the youngest athlete to cross the English Channel and the North Channel, also participated in the competition.
Canakkale Rotary Club Dardanelles Swimming Competition, which broke new ground, broke new ground once again this year and one of our female swimmers came first in the general classification. At the same time, one of our 82-year-old swimmers came first in his age category, proving that sports and the spirit of sportsman can stay alive at all ages.
This year, 881 swimmers from 19 different countries registered to swim across the Dardanelles (680 Domestic, 201 International), 830 people received their chips, 804 people entered the sea, 8 people were disqualified, 796 people successfully completed the race. This is a record 99% success.
5 coast guards, 4 maritime police, 1 AFAD boat, 1 ambulance boat, 10 fast boats, 1 fast boat, 65 fishing boats, 40 canoes, a total of 127 sea vehicles from public and private institutions accompanied our swimmers, 400 personnel, 25 volunteers, Çanakkale Rotary Club members, spouses and children, Çanakkale Rotaract Club members, Wilusa Tourism Company employees took active roles, and considering the preparations for the race, approximately 1000 people were involved in this project.
District 2440 DG Ayda Özeren, DGE Mert Korur, DGN Adnan Sözeri, Rotarians from various Clubs, Zone 21B Public Image Coordinator Altan Arslan, ARPIC Alaeddin Demircioğlu, ARPIC Maria Mastora and PARPIC Maria Delivoria from Greece and ARPIC Tanya Georgieva from Bulgaria also watched the races with a group of Rotarians from Nigeria.
Canakkale Rotary Club is proud accomplish this sustainable competition fort he 36th time.
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