Grand Opening in Oulu

With the Championships Swimming in Oulu (FIN), the CSIT is already organizing its fourth Single Championships 2022 from August 26-27 after Beachsoccer, Mamanet and Gymnastics in June in Italy. 227 athletes (114 women and 111 men) from eight member federations from seven countries will take part in the CSIT Amateur Games in Finland and compete for the coveted medals. The fact that athletes between eight and 65 years of age are competing here shows how broadly the CSIT is positioned. A sign of great cohesion, tolerance, respect, fair play, friendship and intercultural dialogue through sport. The lived values of CSIT.

"I declare the Games for opened"
Before the evening session on Friday, CSIT Vice President Anu Rajajärvi and Oulu City Council Chairman Juha Hänninen officially opened the Games. "I have the great honor to welcome you all here in Oulu," said Hänninen, who also emphasized that Oulu is considered a city of sports and youth in Finland. "Sport is a great way to learn important qualities for life. You are swimming in one of the most popular swimming venues in Finland and I wish you all the best and success for the event." Anu Rajajärvi thanked the organizers for the invitation and the 50 volunteers and the 10-member organizing committee for the great work and was allowed to speak the magic words at the end: "I declare the Games for opened!"

Pure excitement like in the pros
One week after the competitions of the European Swimming Championships in Rome (ITA), the CSIT Single Championships Swimming in Oulu (FIN) will be a real sportive event. As with the professionals in Rome, the performances in the individual disciplines of the amateurs in Oulu are also very respectable. The fight for gold, silver and bronze differs in the amateurs by nothing from the professionals. The duels are spectacular and exciting, the atmosphere in the Oulu Swimming Hall is great and the decisions are sometimes extremely close. As at the World Championships, the European Championships or the Olympics, the loudest events are the final relays of the individual sections and the national team competitions.

CSIT - Sports for All
At big amateur events like here in Oulu, the course is often set for a great future and stars of tomorrow are discovered. Those who start early get better faster. The Finnish children Anna Rautio and Johannes Leinonen, who started swimming at an early age, have shown great talent in various disciplines. The fact that even over 60-year-olds like the Israeli Chaim Levinar, born in 1957, not only tackle the 50m breaststroke but also the 100m freestyle and swim good times, also underlines the health aspect of the sport of swimming and the good work of the CSIT on the subject of sport for elderly people. The Games in Oulu will be concluded on Saturday with two more sessions. The day of departure is Sunday.

LIVE Stream & Entry Lists
The CSIT Swimming Single Championships in Oulu (FIN) are the last sporting event of the CSIT Family before the CSIT World Sports Games in Rome 2023. Swimming in Oulu is already the fourth CSIT sports event 2022 after the three Games in Cervia and Cesenatico inJune . As in Cervia, there also will be a LIVE stream in Oulu for the event. In order to be up to date around the clock, there will also be an online dashboard where all results, the schedule and relevant information for teams can be accessed. All start and entry lists for the competition can be found online. 

All pictures by ©Henri Luoma