A Historic First for Singapore

In a milestone moment for Singapore sport, the Republic will host the World Aquatics Championships for the first time in its history. The event, one of the most prestigious in international swimming, diving, and water sports, will take place from 11 July to 3 August 2025—marking a historic first for both Singapore and Southeast Asia.

The Games will see more than 2,500 athletes from over 200 nations competing in 77 medal events across six disciplines, including swimming, artistic swimming, diving, water polo, high diving, and open water swimming. Hosting such a large-scale, globally significant event underscores Singapore’s emergence as a world-class sports destination.

WCH Arena: Singapore’s Newest Sports Landmark

To support the event, Singapore unveiled the World Aquatics Championships Arena in Kallang, a purpose-built facility featuring two Olympic-standard 50m pools—one for competition, one for practice—and seating for 4,800 spectators. With foundation works starting in late 2024, the facility was completed within months and officially launched in June 2025.

The competition pool is designed for performance with a 3m depth and 32-degree seating angles for optimal visibility. The space is fitted with large LED panels and live broadcast screens to enrich the spectator experience, and the entire arena is equipped with 5G+ network slicing for seamless live streaming, operations, and security.

A Citywide Celebration of Aquatics

While the WCH Arena will host swimming and artistic swimming events, the OCBC Aquatic Centre will be the venue for water polo and diving. A temporary platform on Sentosa Island will host the high-diving competitions, creating a unique urban-meets-tropical backdrop. Together, these venues reflect Singapore’s innovative spirit and logistical expertise.

To kick off the festivities, the arena will also host the Southeast Asian Age Group Swimming Championships in June, giving young regional athletes a chance to shine in the same world-class environment as the sport’s elite.

Elevating SG60 Through Global Sport

Hosting the World Aquatics Championships during SG60 adds a layer of national pride. The event showcases not just infrastructure and capability, but also community spirit, volunteerism, and Singapore’s commitment to sporting inclusivity.

Singapore’s first-time hosting of the championships also sends a message to the world: that this island nation, once a small port city, now belongs in the ranks of global leaders in sport, innovation, and international cooperation.