Hosting an international aquatics event is about more than delivering world-class competition. With the season underway and the Cancún stop of the Open Water Swimming World Cup now concluded, the organising committee and local personnel reflect on the event’s wider significance and its contribution to tourism, the community, and nation as a whole.
11 Years had passed since Mexico last accommodated the Open Water Swimming World Cup on its shores but despite the hiatus, backed by a 193-strong team comprising production, operations, installation, coast guard & safety, volunteers, and National Federation staff, the nation hosted a tremendous opening event to kick-off the new season.
President of Aquatics Mexico, Fernando Platas, explained why it was an ‘easy decision’ to host.
“We have to recognise that as a country, we have great destinations for this sport.
"It develops new competitions, clubs, and coaches, and if you bring all of that together, it makes the decision [to host] easy"
“It was very important for us to raise our hands, and show that we have the capacity and can manage this kind of event.”
The event itself, which took place from 6-7 November at Playa Langosta, drew record crowds and dozens of media outlets who came to support the 119 participating athletes.
One such person was Governor of Quintana Roo, Mara Lezama Espinosa, whose collaboration was integral to making the event a reality.
“For us, it is wonderful to have an event like this in Cancún, to remind the world that we are the world capital of vacations, but also of sports tourism.
“To have a beach like this, Playa Langosta, and our entire coastline to have the best athletes from around the world - there are 27 nationalities competing and we’ve received them with open arms. For them to be able to compete and take away a great experience is very important.”
Governor Espinosa touched on what she described as the ‘economic spillover’ of the event, adding: “What this event also means is that 27 nationalities return to their country, talking about tourism and how their time was in Cancún and that means economic spillover.
“That’s an important part of what we say in this government which is shared prosperity; it is tourist success, but also how that translates to the people who work in hospitality.
“All that spillover undoubtedly means wellbeing for the workers of the tourism industry. So we want to say thank you because when you come, you help to generate shared prosperity and wellbeing for our people.”
Inspiring the Next Generation
Another by-product of hosting an event of this nature is the inspiration it generates for younger athletes.
For Team Mexico, this event marked their biggest ever contingent at an Open Water Swimming World Cup and gave 24 athletes - including rising star Paulo Strehlke Delgado - the chance to learn from the best in the world.
Commenting on how the event may inspire future generations, Governor Espinosa added:
"These events are an inspiration to kids who can then say ‘I want to be like him or her"
“They might start swimming and be inspired that they have a Quintana Roo native like Fernando Betanzos or the many other Mexican athletes competing.
“It is these returning events that inspire and generate tourism which is fundamental. We will continue attracting more and I am sure that this World Aquatics event has come to stay.”
Romell Pacheco, General Director of the National Commission for Physical Culture and Sport (CONADE), enjoyed a lengthy career as an Olympic diver and understands first-hand the importance of partnerships like the ones that made this event possible.
“We wanted to do this collaborative work with World Aquatics and bring this event to Mexico, which signifies the beginning of preparations for the Pan American Games and the Los Angeles Olympic Games.
“The World Aquatics family get to come to Mexico, visit the best beaches, enjoy the cuisine and hospitality. For the local people, they get to watch and support the best swimmers in the world.
“This helps to raise the level of the sport, but it also highlights Mexico as a sports tourism destination and through this partnership, Mexico can be known for sport around the world.
‘Team Effort’
Both Pacheco and Platas spoke to how crucial having a good team in place is, with President Platas adding: “These things don’t happen by themselves but you can do it with a great team.
“I have to be thankful to have Daniel [Delgadillo] and all the team because they know and love this sport.
“We also have to be very thankful for our partners. We have the capacity to host any kind of aquatics sport because we have the infrastructure, the support from the Government and the National Olympic Committee and an excellent relationship with World Aquatics.”
With 50 volunteers working tirelessly to bring this event together, General Director Pacheco commented:
"The volunteers are a fundamental part of carrying out this event"
“We of course need to recognise the strategy and guidance that the President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, has so that sport reaches socially but also toward high performance.
“We are united with this great strategy so we need to thank the Government of Mexico and the President for all their support and dedication to sport.”