On October 11 in Nikola, Irkutsk district, the Baikal Open Cup of the Irkutsk Region Swimming Federation will be held, bringing together 162 athletes from four Irkutsk clubs. For the first time, young participants will also be allowed, and the competition will be another step toward reviving interest in swimming in the region. Participants will compete in races at various distances and a relay, and organizers note a clear rise in the level and popularity of this sport.

On October 11, the Open Cup of the Baikal Swimming Federation of the Irkutsk Region “Baikal” among Irkutsk sports clubs with swimming pools will be held at the Baikal Search and Rescue Unit of the Ministry of Emergency Situations in the village of Nikola, Irkutsk District. Representatives of four Irkutsk sports clubs, “World Gym,” “Gold Gym,” “Gold Master,” and “Vesna,” will take part in the tournament.
As noted by the president of the Baikal Swimming Federation of the Irkutsk Region, Sergei Bryansky.
– “Applications to participate have already been submitted by 162 athletes, which is five times more than in a similar tournament last year; this shows that the prestige of such a sport as swimming in the region is gradually being restored. We have begun to take up to 20-25 prize-winning places in all-Russian competitions, whereas not so long ago we were able to take only 2-3 places. Thus, we are holding swimming competitions among clubs for the second year in a row. For the first competition last year, 36 people submitted applications to participate. This year, for the first time, we decided to involve young participants in the tournament as well. For the Baikal Swimming Federation of the Irkutsk Region, this is a wonderful chance to see talented and gifted children and take note of them for the future.”
The athletes participating in the tournament will be divided into several categories: boys and girls born in 2000-2002, 2003-2004, 2005-2006, and 2007-2008. Adults will also take part in the competition – members of Irkutsk sports clubs born in 1999 and earlier, as well as sports club staff. Depending on their age, the athletes will have to cover 50 m backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and freestyle, 100 m freestyle, and take part in the 8x50 m freestyle relay. Each participant may compete in no more than two events.
The start of the competition is scheduled for Saturday, October 11, at 11:00 a.m. in the swimming pool of the Baikal Search and Rescue Unit of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. For all questions of interest, you may contact Sergei Nikolayevich Bryansky, tel. 8-902-560-89-50.
Based on materials from the press service of the Ministry of Physical Culture, Sports and Youth Policy of the Irkutsk Region.