The National Spring Swimming Championships will be held in Qingdao on March 18.

On February 28, the Qingdao Municipal Government Press Office held a press conference to introduce the city's 2025 sports events and activities, as well as details about the 6th Qingdao City Games. Notably, the 2025 Qingdao ICBC Cup National Spring Swimming Championships have been confirmed to take place from March 18 to 23 at the Qingdao Guoxin Sports Center Swimming and Diving Arena.

The National Spring Swimming Championships is the country's highest-level swimming event, and this year marks the eighth time it has been held in Qingdao.

The event features high standards and attracts a large-scale participation.

As one of the nation's five top-tier A-level swimming events, the Spring Championships follows the latest FINA competition rules and features events including men’s and women’s 50–1500m freestyle, 50–200m backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, as well as 200–400m individual medley.

Currently, registration for the event has closed, and based on the information we have, this year’s Spring Championships has attracted the highest number of participants in its history. To better prepare for the 15th National Games, China’s national swimming team will also be competing in Qingdao. Star athletes such as Tokyo Olympic champions Zhang Yufei and Wang Shun have already signed up and are set to showcase their incredible skills on the pool deck.

The Spring Championships are not only a high-level competition among China's top domestic athletes, but also serve as a qualifying event for scouting and developing the country's next-generation swimming talent.

The Swimming Administration Center of the General Administration of Sport of China places great importance on the competition work for this year's Spring Championships, providing professional guidance and technical support throughout the entire process—from bidding for the event and evaluating proposals to finalizing preparations.

The official ticket sales for the Spring Championships are expected to kick off in early March. Please stay tuned to our official announcements for the exact start time. This year’s event will feature a range of package deals, designed to better meet the needs of swimming fans and local residents alike. The event organizing committee has also refined the seating and ticketing area layout, ensuring a more balanced and equitable distribution of tickets across all price tiers. We warmly invite everyone to join us at the Qingdao Guoxin Sports Center to cheer on your favorite athletes—come out and show your support by waving flags and cheering loudly right from the venue!

Highly professional with strong industry-driven momentum

This competition will debut underwater VAR technology, which will effectively enhance the professionalism of the matches and ensure smoother live broadcasts.

From a sports economy perspective, this year's Spring Championships have attracted significant market attention. Since the event was announced in Qingdao, we’ve already received multiple inquiries related to ticket sales, cultural tourism, and other ancillary services. Based on historical event data, the tournament is expected to stimulate short-term economic activity across the city—particularly in Laoshan District—boosting consumer spending by over 10 million yuan. In the long term, hosting the Spring Championships will help reignite enthusiasm for swimming and fitness activities throughout the province.

Long preparation period, with many commercial elements

As the long-term host company for this year’s competition, Qingdao Guoxin Group has proactively carried out functional upgrades to the competition venue. The Guoxin Swimming and Diving Arena has already completed essential maintenance on its pool and water circulation systems, conducted thorough testing of the venue’s audio-visual equipment, and performed comprehensive inspections of the spectator seating area. Additionally, the group has placed a strong emphasis on monitoring water and air quality, while fine-tuning both indoor temperature and water temperature to ensure that all facilities and equipment meet the stringent requirements of the event.

Regarding food and accommodation, eight event hotels—including the Qingdao Guoxin Sports Center Hotel—have proactively developed comprehensive reception plans tailored to the dietary preferences of athletes from previous competitions. These plans focus on aspects such as menu variety, local culinary customs, hygiene standards, lodging conditions, and food safety, ensuring that hotel services and anti-doping measures meet the stringent requirements of the Games.

In terms of organization, functional areas such as the judges' seating area, athletes' rest zone, spectator viewing area, and media work zone have been clearly defined. At the same time, detailed plans have been put in place for visitor flow management and event security, ensuring a safe and orderly competition.

To deliver a premium viewing experience for swimming fans, the event organizing committee has carefully planned and designed in advance, introducing international-standard sports presentation elements for the first time. They’ve meticulously crafted an immersive lighting show and an engaging opening performance, enhancing both the vibrant atmosphere of the venue and the interactive experience for spectators.

Meanwhile, in the "Sports+" initiative, swimming expos and vibrant markets will be organized around major events, while collaborating with the culture and tourism authorities to ramp up promotional efforts encouraging travelers to explore destinations tied to these sporting occasions.

(People's Daily · People's Daily Reporter Bo Keguo, Correspondent Shang Ya)