22.07.2016
Excitement for the 2016 Samsung Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swimming Race built up today in Istanbul as the Turkish Olympic Committee (TOC) and Samsung Electronics Turkey held a press conference at Olympic House to announce their celebrity guest swimmer: Shelley Taylor-Smith.
This year’s record event will see 2159 swimmers from 60 countries take part in the open water race on Sunday 24 July. Swimming alongside them will be Australian long-distance swimmer and this year’s TOC honorary celebrity guest, Shelley Taylor-Smith. Despite suffering from scoliosis at young age and partial paralysis later in her career, Taylor-Smith defied all medical odds to win an astonishing seven consecutive FINA Marathon World Cups. She also won gold at the 1991 World Aquatics Championships in Perth and bronze at the 1994 Championships in Rome.
The Bosphorus race, which began as a local swim in 1988, has now evolved into an international swimming event attracting thousands of participants from all across the globe. In total 1243 local swimmers and 916 international swimmers will take part in the 6.5km race. Shipping traffic in one of the world’s busiest lanes will be halted while the event takes place.
President of the TOC, Professor Dr. Uğur Erdener, said:
“The TOC and city of Istanbul are proud to host this unique event, now in its 28th edition. With the help of our sponsor Samsung Electronics Turkey, we have boosted participation levels year-on-year, with the 2016 edition attracting more swimmers and nationalities than ever before. Istanbul is renowned for its diversity and is a melting pot of culture much like the event it is hosting on Sunday. On behalf of the TOC I’d like to wish all the swimmers taking part in Sunday’s race the best of luck as they cross the Bosphorus strait from Asia to Europe.”
President of Samsung Electronics Turkey, DaeHyun Kim, said:
“Being at the forefront of the information sector globally, we believe sport has an important role as a tool to cross borders and continents, uniting people from different cultures and promoting love and tolerance. We have been collaborating with the TOC for the past 12 years to raise awareness in sports and support the development of the Olympic spirit. We are proud to host the Samsung Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swimming Race which brings the Asian and European continents together as a symbol for removing borders. We are delighted to host what will surely be an unforgettable memory and experience for participants and fans alike.”
The 28th Samsung Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swimming Race will begin at 10am local time on Sunday 24 July where swimmers will take off from Kanlıca on the Asian side of Istanbul and finish the race in Kuruçeşme Cemil Topuzlu Park on the European side.