Bratislava to host Trans Danube Swim with 4,000 participants

The 13th annual Trans Danube Swim event is scheduled to take place in Bratislava on Sunday, September 6. Organized by the travel agency BUBO, the event has grown from 81 participants in 2014 to over 4,000 registered swimmers from 17 different countries this year.

Participants will swim from Dvořákovo nábrežie near River Park to the Slovak Rowing Club. The event is expected to include a diverse demographic, including 332 children and 68 participants over the age of 70, with the oldest registered swimmer being 88 years old. Notable athletes, including Olympian Alexandra Longová, are also set to participate.

To facilitate the swim, boat traffic on the Danube in Bratislava will be suspended for several hours. The event aims to highlight the potential of the river as a central part of the city's identity. A recent survey indicated that while 69 percent of Bratislava residents visit the river frequently, only 6 percent use it for swimming, citing needs for better access and confirmed water cleanliness.