The Maldives edition of the internationally recognised open water swimming franchise Oceanman Global, titled “Oceanman Maldives”, has officially commenced in the country.

The event began on Thursday in Maafushi, bringing together 532 swimmers from 40 countries.

The official opening ceremony was attended by Minister of Sports, Fitness and Recreation Abdulla Rafiu, who described the event as a significant milestone for the Maldives’ sports sector. The Ministry stated that hosting such international events supports ongoing efforts to position the Maldives as a global sports destination.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister highlighted that promoting sports tourism remains a key policy of the Government, adding that the Oceanman Maldives event contributes to this objective.

The event is being organised locally by Swim Maldives and is endorsed by Visit Maldives.

Of the total, 385 are international swimmers, while 147 are Maldivian athletes. Among foreign participants, the highest number is from India, with 54 swimmers taking part.

The competition, which began on Thursday, is scheduled to continue until Sunday.

Established around a decade ago, Oceanman now hosts events in more than 26 countries annually. Swim Maldives stated that the Maldivian edition will follow the standard format of all Oceanman races, maintaining international benchmarks for safety and race execution.