40 Countries Represented at Balaton Cross Swimming Event
The Lidl Balaton Cross Swimming event, scheduled for July 20, is expected to draw more than 10,000 participants, as reported by Turizmus.com. With 40 days to go, over 6,000 pre-registrations have already been received from 800 municipalities across Hungary.
This unique open-water swimming event is not only popular among Hungarians but also attracts participants from abroad. More than 300 swimmers from 39 different countries are expected to join the event on July 20. It is noteworthy that 41% of the participants are women, representing a significant increase from the early days of the event when only 4% were female.
The main goal of the organizers remains to provide participants with three options: to swim the classic 5.2 km distance between Révfülöp (northern shore) and Balatonboglár (southern shore), the 2.6 km half distance between Balatonboglár and Révfülöp, or to paddleboard the distance between the two cities.
Safety is a top priority for the event, with a floating corridor consisting of 130 sailboats, small boats, and motorboats ensuring the safety of the swimmers. Over 1,000 organizers will be on hand to oversee the event.
In case of inclement weather, reserve days have been set for July 21, 27, and 28, as well as August 3, 4, 10, and 11. The organizers will provide updates closer to the event date after consulting with the Hungarian Meteorological Service and the Balaton Water Police Department.
The Balaton Cross Swimming event has a rich history, dating back to 1983, and has become a summer tradition in Hungary. It celebrates the legacy of Kálmán Szekrényessy, who made significant contributions to modern swimming in Hungary by completing a 14 km swim across Lake Balaton in the late 19th century. The event has since evolved into a mass sporting event, attracting participants from all over the world.
For more information about the event, visit Turizmus.com or the official Facebook page for Balaton crossing.
