Saipan will welcome 100 swimmers and their families from China starting Dec. 2 as part of “SWIM in the Marianas,” a five-night cultural exchange focused on ocean activities, sightseeing and community engagement, according to the Marianas Visitors Authority.
SWIM—short for Saltwater Invigorating Movement—was developed in partnership with the Guangzhou Tianhe District Swimming Association, which has more than 40,000 members and regularly hosts international swim events.
MVA Managing Director Jamika Taijeron said the association shares the Marianas’ values of health, wellness and community. The group recently toured Saipan’s top attractions and scouted sites for a one-kilometer swim.
The event will be non-competitive, emphasizing healing and cultural exchange.
“We want to work with members of the community to really make it a cultural exchange, and where people who share the same passion can get together,” Taijeron said.
Organizers hope this marks the first of several waves of visitors, with future events potentially expanding to Rota and Tinian.
