The Largest National Marine Sports Festival to Be Held at Turtle Island in Siwha Lake

From August 30: Yachting, Canoeing, Finswimming, and Triathlon
Marine Leisure Experience Programs and Performances Including Boat and Yacht Activities

The 17th National Marine Sports Festival, the largest marine sports event in South Korea, will be held for four days from August 30 to September 2 at Turtle Island in Siwha Lake. This is the first time the National Marine Sports Festival will take place in the Seoul metropolitan area.

On July 29, the city of Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, held a press briefing in the city hall briefing room and announced its plans to host the National Marine Sports Festival.

This year's festival, held under the theme "The Blue Dream of Turtle Island in Siwha Lake: Beyond Miracles, Toward the Future," will feature four official events: yachting, canoeing, underwater and finswimming, and triathlon. A total of 2,111 athletes from elementary school to adult divisions will participate. In addition, three exhibition events?dragon boat, rubber boat, and flyboard?will also take place.

For visitors, the city has prepared a variety of marine sports experiences such as banana boat, flyfish, peanut board, and marine adventure. Visitors can also enjoy yacht tours and boat experiences at the floating marina. Various experience programs can be reserved in advance through the National Marine Sports Festival website starting early next month, and on-site registration will also be available.

There will also be side events and performances with the sea as the theme. On the first day of the festival, the opening ceremony will feature performances by invited singers such as Gregg and Younha. During the festival, activities such as "Drawing Sea Postcards," "Composing Acrostic Poems about the Sea," "Swimming Pool Experience," and "Flea Market" will be held. On September 2, the closing day, singer Kim Yoonah is scheduled to perform at the closing ceremony.

Yoon Jincheol, Director of Balanced Development Bureau of Siheung City (center), is explaining the plan to host the National Marine Sports Festival on the 29th at the city hall briefing room. Provided by Siheung City

During the festival, the city will also host the "Siheung Mayor's Cup International Surfing Competition." In addition, to revitalize the stagnant Turtle Island commercial district, a "Turtle Island Commercial Vacancy Expo" will be held to match landlords and tenants.

Meanwhile, the coastal deck section and surrounding roads of Turtle Island, where the opening and closing ceremonies will be held, will be operated as car-free zones. For public transportation users, two shuttle bus routes will run between Turtle Island, Siheung City Hall Station, and Oido Station. Visitors arriving by car will be provided with free access to eight temporary parking lots?including Ibiza Tower, Aqua Pet Land, and Bonitaga?and four public parking lots near the venue. Internal shuttle buses will also operate between each temporary parking lot and the event venue.

Yoon Jincheol, Director of Balanced Development at Siheung City, said, "This festival, set against the beautiful scenery of Turtle Island, will bring joy beyond competition to both athletes and spectators. Through this event, we aim to broaden the base of marine sports culture and elevate Siheung's status as a center for the marine leisure tourism industry."