The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has invested R1.3 million into the 2022 SA National Lifesaving Championships.
The competition kicks off on Sunday and for the first time since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, spectators will be allowed to watch from inside a designated arena.
No spectators were permitted last October at the 2021 Championships, but organisers said for the first time since 2019 a limited number of vaccinated fans will be allowed to cheer on their lifesaving heroes but in strict accordance with Government Gazetted regulations.
Over 1 500 competitors from 40 clubs across the country are expected to partake in the week-long event.
Lifesaving SA Director of Sport, Craig van Rooyen, says it will be facilitated by 120 officials over 500 events which will run until 26 March.
The annual championship will again take place at Kings Beach, while the still water leg takes place at Newton Park Swimming pool.
Metro Executive Mayor, Eugene Johnson, meanwhile welcomed the competitors and their families to the city during a media briefing on Friday.
She says this edition marks the last of a three-year-agreement with Lifesaving SA.
Johnson, however, lauded the partnership which delivered an incident-free event last year, despite it taking place during the height of the covid-19 pandemic.
