The official opening event of this year's Swimming World Cup took place high above the lights of the German capital as World Aquatics and the German Swimming Federation (DSV) hosted the second edition of Media Night.

Hosted in the "Loft14" on the top floor of the Vienna House Andel’s Berlin, the media night brought together a collection of swimmers with numerous World Aquatics Championship and Olympic titles with those that make their wages recording and writing.

World Aquatics President Husain Al Musallam opened the event by expressing his pleasure in being back in Berlin as he recalled competing as a swimmer in the German capital city for the 3rd World Aquatics Championships back in 1978.

"I am very happy to be in this beautiful city in Berlin.  I have very good memories of this city when I was here in 1978 competing at the World Aquatics Championships," said the World Aquatics President.  "I wish to thank the organizing committee and the German Swimming Federation and what you have done over the last three months to prepare to host a great event.

"To the athletes, I say that I admire you. "I also want to thank you for coming from all over the world to compete in the Swimming World Cup," added Mr. Al Musallam. "Thank you for being here in Berlin and I look forward to also seeing you in Athens and in Budapest."

German Swimming Vice President Kai Morganroth continued the reception's welcoming addresses. 

"We have more than 45 nations who will compete here in Berlin, just 10 weeks after the most recent World Aquatics Championships," the co-leader of the Germany Swimming Federation said. "For each of the competing athletes, this is a big step on your way to the Doha Worlds and Paris Olympics."

South Africa's Chad le Clos - the all-time winningest Swimming World Cup male competitor with 151 career titles - helped bring the athletes' voice to the event.

"I am honoured to be back here in Berlin and to be speaking on behalf of all of the athletes, the 31-year-old World and Olympic champion said. "I have competed in the World Cup since 2007, when I was just 15 years old and I actually won my first World Cup here in Berlin in 2009. That's to say,  I have been swimming in the World Cup for a long time and the World Cup has been a huge portion of my career.

" I know that many in South Africa will be watching back home and everyone knows how big this event is," added le Clos. "Thanks to World Aquatics for keeping the World Cup going. And thanks to the media for covering this event. I believe the best is still yet to come -- for myself and for the Swimming World Cups. Let’s have a great week."

Event anticipation could be felt everywhere.

Count last year's Swimming World Cup overall male champion Dylan Carter among this crowd.

"World Aquatics was so kind and generous to reach out and invite me to this athlete experience this year and to bring me along for all the world cups," said the 27-year-old from Trinidad & Tobago. "I love a busy schedule and I love racing. It keeps me very engaged and it keeps me very sharp. "I am happy to have these World Cups to sharpen me up for the Worlds in Doha this February."

Australia's Lani Pallister - the reigning 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle world champion in the 25m pool - said racing on the Swimming World Cup reminded her of her junior racing days.

"This is an important meet for us, especially travelling from Australia and it will be the last chance for us to swim in Europe before next summer's Olympic Games.  

"I am excited to do be racing back-to-back-to-back.  I used to do this when I was younger and race every weekend in the summer."

As We're #UnitedByRacing, Let's Watch the Swimming World Cups Live!

 Contributing: Greggory Eggert