In addition to GuangZhou, Foshan and Zhaoqing will also participated in the Cross-Pearl River Swimming event, which is due to be held on the afternoon of August 10. As part of the Guangzhou-Foshan-Zhaoqing Economic Sphere, Foshan will continue to take part in the event, while Zhaoqing will be involved for the first time.

Guangzhou municipal government spokesman Ouyang Yongsheng announced at a press briefing on July 29 that the cross-river swimming event will start from the Sun Yat-sen University (Zhongda) Wharf and end at the Xinghai Concert Hall on the northern shore of the river, with a straight-line distance of about 450 metres and a swimming route of some 800 metres.

The event, themed around “ushering in the Asian Games and building a New Life”, is expected to involve about 2,000 swimmers who will cross the river in 40 formations.