- The Australian Open Water Championships and OceanSwim Festival kicks off in Busselton for a second consecutive year
- Festival expected to attract thousands of spectators and competitors to the region
- Mass participation event will boost local hospitality businesses and tourism operators
- Supported by the Western Australian Government and the City of Busselton
Some of the nation’s best swimmers have taken to the ocean in Busselton today, as one of Australia’s biggest swimming festivals returns for a second year.
Hundreds of elite athletes and community swimmers will compete in various events at the OceanSwim Festival, which takes place at the iconic Busselton Jetty from 24-27 January.
As part of the festival, competing swimmers will also face off in the Australian Open Water Championships, providing athletes with qualifying opportunities for the respective Masters, Open, and Junior International level events held later this year.
The Championships were held in Western Australia for the first time in 2023, bringing more than 2,000 visitors to WA’s South West who spent more than $2.1 million in the region.
This year’s event is expected to deliver a similar result, with hundreds of out-of-state swimmers travelling to WA for the event, along with accompanying spectators, injecting millions into the WA economy.
The event is proudly supported by the WA Government and the City of Busselton, and will be hosted by Swimming Australia and supported by Swimming WA.
The different courses, including 500m, 1.25km, 2.5km, 5km, 7.5km and 10km options, will take place around the Busselton Jetty, allowing spectators to line the iconic structure to watch the races.
Outside of the water, the Festival of Busselton will be taking place, providing competitors and spectators with a number of activities to choose from over the course of the weekend, including an outdoor cinema and twilight picnic.
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Comments attributed to Acting Tourism Minister John Carey:
“It’s an exciting weekend in Busselton as the OceanSwim Festival returns for a second year, once again bringing thousands of people to Western Australia’s South West region, supporting local accommodation providers, hospitality businesses, and jobs.
“Our Government is deeply proud to be supporting this event at one of our top tourism destinations, with the race taking place alongside Busselton’s iconic jetty.
“With regular flights from Melbourne and Sydney connecting Busselton seamlessly to the east coast, it’s never been easier for travellers to visit our South West region to attend events like the OceanSwim Festival.”
As stated by Regional Development Minister Don Punch:
“This event, which is being held in WA for a second consecutive year, shines a global spotlight on Western Australia’s South West and the beauty of the State’s natural wonders.
“Importantly, these events are also vital for supporting local businesses in the community and helping to diversify our regional economy.”
Comments attributed to South West MLC Jackie Jarvis:
“We’re very excited to welcome competitors and spectators from both within the State and outside WA to this fantastic event in our region, which brings in valuable visitor spending and supports local operators.
“These types of events always create a fantastic atmosphere in the community, so I encourage locals to head down and check it out as well.”
