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Cross-Straits ties to be buoyed by swimmers

By Tong Halo (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-08-15 09:55

One hundred participants from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan will swim across the straits between Xiamen, Fujian province, and Taiwan's Kinmen on Saturday morning in the first event of its kind.

Organizers hope the mass swim will strengthen connections between the two sides.

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The swimmers, 50 from the mainland and 50 from Taiwan, will kick off at 10:30 am. They will leave Yefengzhai in Xiamen, and swim to Shuangkou village in Kinmen.

The two communities are about 6 km apart and the swimmers will likely take around two hours to complete the journey.

The swim is being co-hosted by the governments of Xiamen and Kinmen.

"We began to contact Taiwan, hoping to hold such an activity, at the end of 1990s," said He Xi, deputy director of Xiamen Municipal Sports Bureau, who was one of the organizers of the event. "Because the relationship between the two sides has fluctuated, it has taken a long time to reach this stage."

Participants will set off in groups of 20 at intervals of 30 seconds. Those who cover the distance within three hours will receive an honorary certificate. In Kinmen, they will enjoy a reception party on Saturday evening.

"We hope to deepen communications between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan through swimming. It is our first time to hold such an activity and we hope it may continue afterwards," He said.

The 50 participants from Taiwan, as well as six coaches and 48 supporters arrived in Xiamen on Thursday.

Participants from Fujian, Beijing, Guangdong and other regions of the mainland, selected in June from people wanting to take part, arrived in Xiamen on Monday. Among them, 45-year-old Zhang Jian attracted the most attention, having already swum the Qiongzhou Strait, Bohai Strait and the English Channel.

The swim is being seen as the latest in a series of events that have improved cross-Straits ties.

Organizers of Saturday's swim have taken precautions to ensure the safety of participants. A boat will follow each swimmer and timely medical aid will be available at sea if necessary, He said.

Weather in Xiamen on Saturday is expected to be sunny, according the municipal weather station.

China Post and Xiamen Post will each issue commemorative stamps marking the event.