Written/Compiled and Reported by Wei Ruyu
The “2011 Centennial Swim Across Dapeng Bay Long-Distance Swimming Event,” jointly organized by the Dapeng Bay National Scenic Area Administration of the Tourism Bureau, Ministry of Transportation and Communications, and the Chinese Taipei Swimming Association, kicked off in grand style at 8:00 a.m. on the 26th at the Dapeng Bay International Leisure Zone in Donggang, Pingtung County, attracting nearly a thousand swimming enthusiasts. Among them, in the first-ever long-distance swimming timed competition held in Taiwan, Pan Kaiwen from Taipei Physical Education College won the timed competition category with an impressive time of 36 minutes, 47.21 seconds, while Deng Yuc_ from Keelung Nuannuan High School claimed the women’s title with a time of 38 minutes, 28 seconds.
Men, women, young and old alike, all swam across Dapeng Bay full of spirit. (Photo provided by Dapeng Bay National Scenic Area Administration, Tourism Bureau)
The long-distance swimming event was divided into competitive, leisure, family, and disabled categories. Pingtung County Deputy Magistrate Chung Chia-ping also took part, joining over 140 competitors in the competitive group. Participants included Legislative Yuan member Wang Jinshen, Vice President of the Chinese Taipei Swimming Association Chen Shichang, Chairman of the Hengchun Peninsula Tourism Industry Alliance Yu Xinfa, and Director Wu Maosheng of the Dapeng Bay National Scenic Area Administration, who all came to cheer on the athletes.
Besides the nation’s first long-distance swimming timed race (competitive group), seven disabled individuals also challenged themselves. Du Chenniang, 82, from the Morning Swim Club in Pingtung City, Lin Shi, 80, from the Along-the-Mountain Morning Swim Club in Pingtung County, and several other seniors over 70 years old were full of energy and truly admirable. Nearly a thousand participants splashed across Dapeng Bay, creating a spectacular scene.
Taiwan’s first opening movable bridge, the “Pengwan Cross-Sea Bridge,” is a famous landmark of Dapeng Bay. (Photo provided by Qingzhou Coastal Recreation Area)
Beyond the exciting races, the event also featured community agricultural product exhibitions, Coast Guard equipment displays, as well as performances such as sexy bikini shows, Electric-Style San Taizi (electronic Three Great Gods), acrobatics, and Sichuan face-changing. The organizers also added lottery draws with attractive prizes including 42-inch LCD TVs, bicycles, and microwave ovens to liven things up. Free experiences with water activities like sailing, canoeing, and swan boats added to the lively atmosphere by Dapeng Bay.