The biggest open-water events in 2026 will be in Santa Fe | OneFootball

Santa Fe will once again put water at the center of the international sports scene. The city, with a tradition deeply tied to swimming in rivers and lagoons, is preparing to host two of the most important events on the open-water calendar: the World Junior Championships and the Odesur events. The schedule, concentrated between late August and September, will position the provincial capital as one of the continent’s major venues.

The confirmation came from the president of the Santa Fe Swimming Federation, Yanina Primón, who, speaking with CyD Litoral, highlighted the scale of the challenge and the coordinated work that has been underway for months among the Province, the Municipality, federations, associations, and technical teams. “It’s an incredibly intense year for water sports, and especially for Santa Fe,” she said.

The leader stressed that the city has long been consolidating its place within the discipline, but that this season will have an unprecedented dimension. “We’ve always been known for open-water swimming, but this year the demands are much greater because we’re going to host international competitions, with everything that implies in terms of logistics, organization, and infrastructure,” she explained.

Parque del Sur, the main stage in September

One of the key points in the organization is the circuit chosen for the competition. According to Primón, the venue will be the lake at Parque del Sur, where technical inspections and evaluation visits have already taken place to define every aspect of the setup. The swimmers and the organizing team will enter through Club El Quillá, a key landmark in the local discipline.

“The circuit has already been planned and we’ve already made visits. We have another one scheduled in the coming days because it’s not easy to coordinate: we share the same lake with other sports, and we have to take into account all the requirements set by Odesur,” she explained. She noted that the course will be horizontal, with an oval-shaped layout that will later be replicated at the World Championships.

As for the infrastructure, she confirmed that there will be between three and four buoys, although the final layout will be decided closer to the date, once the last measurements have been completed. “We’ll define that at the last minute according to the park’s final measurements and the conditions of the space,” she said.

One of the issues that had sparked expectations was the condition of the water, especially because of recurring questions about the presence of floating vegetation. On that point, Primón reassured everyone and said that sanitary studies have been underway for more than six months.

“The most important thing was the water analysis, and it came back in perfect condition. Everything related to streptococcus and Escherichia coli is within the parameters. The floating plants may affect visibility, but not the sanitary condition,” she said.

Two weeks that will put Santa Fe in the international spotlight

The planned schedule will be intense. The World Junior Championships are slated for August 30 to September 7, while the competitions corresponding to the Odesur Games will take place on September 12 and 13, just a few days later. For the Federation, it will be an unprecedented organizational challenge.

“We’re going to have two incredibly packed weeks, but if everything goes as planned, it’s going to be a wonderful experience for everyone: for the federation, for the confederation, for the volunteers, and for the whole city,” Primón emphasized.

Expectations for turnout are also high. More than 300 swimmers are expected for the World Championships, while Odesur will bring together around 40 athletes. The difference, she explained, is due to the format of each competition: while the World Championships include delegations from different continents and several events, Odesur will focus on the 10-kilometer race.

“The World Championships bring together representatives from all over the world, and each country can have up to two swimmers per gender in different races. In Odesur, the number is smaller because it’s just one event,” she explained.

As for Argentina’s presence, Primón said the goal is to arrive with a full delegation. “We believe we’ll have four women and four men for the World Championships, and two per gender for Odesur. The qualifying events were already held here in Santa Fe, and we’re waiting for final confirmation from the technical team,” she said.

She also underscored the competitive growth of the discipline at the national level. “This year we wrapped up the Argentine championship with four races, something historic. It had been a very long time since a calendar like that had been achieved, and that gives our athletes much more competitive exposure,” she said.

Beyond the strictly competitive side, Primón highlighted the support of the Santa Fe public, accustomed to living alongside this type of discipline. The city’s relationship with water is historic and runs through not only professional sport, but also amateur and recreational practice.

“There’s tremendous support. Every time there’s a competition in the lagoon or the river, people show up. Santa Fe strongly identifies with water and with these kinds of sports,” she said.

She also confirmed that during July a training camp will be held, possibly in San Jerónimo Norte or in the city of Santa Fe, with the aim of having preparations finalized before August.

With the clock already ticking toward September, the provincial capital is preparing for an event that will not only test its organizational capacity, but will once again showcase one of its strongest identity markers: the bond between the city, the water, and sport.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.