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IMPORTANT COVID-19 UPDATES
Updated 6th February 2023
Although Open Water Swimming is considered to be one of COVID-19 Infection & Transition low risk sports, our team has implemented a set of measures to help ensure that this is a safe and enjoyable event planned in accordance with the public health officials and government authorities’ guidelines.
Please note:
⦁ Approval has been obtained by local government authorities.
⦁ Medical personnel will be on site the day of the race.
⦁ People from the following Groups will be allowed into the event:
⦁ Tier 1 (Essential): Athletes, Coaches, Officials, Event staff, Medical Staff, Security, Anti-doping officials,
⦁ Tier 2 (Preferred): Media, Volunteers, Recovery staff, and
⦁ Tier 3 (Non-essential): Spectators, Vendors.
⦁ Hand sanitizers and antiseptic gels will be available at all common areas. All groups are encouraged to use them.
⦁ Masks although not obligatory are highly recommended for all groups.
⦁ Registration team will be wearing masks, gloves and will be disinfecting desks regularly.
⦁ Social distancing procedures will be in place and both swimmers and spectators are expected to abide by it.
⦁ All swimmers are advised to bring their own towel and hygiene products.
⦁ Cash transactions are considered high risk and will be avoided where possible. Please make sure you have submitted your registration and payment online.
Thank you for your understanding.
ABOUT
The venue of Paphos Open water Marathon part of the Cyprus Swim Series races is Alykes Beach in front of Annabelle Hotel, which is offering great views of the Mediterranean Sea and a taste of the history of Paphos city.
In May ambient temperatures are min/max 21-30 ⁰C while seawater temperatures range between 25-29 ⁰C, making this an ideal time for an Open Water event! It is expected that it will be a non-wetsuit swim, in crystal clear Mediterranean waters.
CATEGORIES
INDIVIDUAL CLASSIFICATION | OPEN CATEGORIES
⦁ 5Km, 18-29 Men, 18-29 Women
⦁ 5Km, 30-39 Men, 30-39 Women
⦁ 5Km, 40-49 Men, 40-49 Women
⦁ 5Km, 50+ Men Masters, 50+ Women Masters
⦁ 3Km, 18-29 Men, 18-29 Women
⦁ 3Km, 30-39 Men, 30-39 Women
⦁ 3Km, 40-49 Men, 40-49 Women
⦁ 3Km, 50+ Men Masters, 50+ Women Masters
SCHEDULE
SUNDAY 21st of May 2023 – RACE DAY
07:30 Athlete bag pick up at Alykes Beach
09:00 Race Start – 5Km Distance | All Categories
09:00 Race Start – 3Km Distance | All Categories
09:30 Juniors Race Start – 1.25Km Distance | 13 – 17 years old
09:30 Kids Race Start – 0.5Km Distance | 8 – 12 years old
12:00 Awards Ceremony
5KM & 3KM SWIM RACECOURSES
START LINE
Start will be given sharply at 09:00 for both distances by a signal: “Get Set” AND a long sound of a HORN OR WHISTLE. This is a land start. All race categories will start simultaneously. All swimmers must start after the horn (those start before the sound of the horn will receive a Time Penalty equal to 1 minute which will be added to their overall time).
THE SWIM | Marathon: 5Km | Sprint: 3Km
Starting in a clockwise direction, swimmers can swim in any stroke they want towards buoy 1, which they must over-pass by leaving it on their right-hand side. Next, swimmers continue to buoy 2 where they must leave the buoy on their right-hand-side and head to buoy 3 which once again, they will have to leave on their right-hand-side. Next, swimmers will pass buoy 4 on their right-hand-side and head to buoy 5 which they will leave on their right-hand-side. After 2 laps for the 3Km distance and 4 laps for the 5Km, swimmers will head to the shore leaving the exit buoy on their left-hand-side. Note that to exit the route, swimmers must leave buoy 2 on their left-hand-side and then buoy 1 on their left-hand-side.
In case an athlete does not “clear” the buoys as described above, the option of a DSQ will be considered. Swimmers are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the course which will be clearly marked and for covering the distance of the 3Km or 5Km as described.
Water temperature will be measured at race morning and announced 60 min before the race start. Please observe wet suits regulations below:
⦁ Water temperature of 20 deg C and above: no wetsuit.
⦁ Water temperature between 18 and 19.9 deg C: swimmer can choose to wear a wetsuit or not.
⦁ Water temperature between 16 and 17.9 deg C: wetsuits are compulsory.
⦁ Water temperature below 15.9 deg C: swimmers should not be competing.
FINISH LINE
The finish line is at Alykes Beach and will be clearly located next to the Timing Area with sufficient identification/branding. Athlete race numbers must always be visible especially at the finish line. A well-placed identifier / body marked number will assist with your identification by the marshals who may ask for your race number upon your approach to the finish line. You are encouraged to voice your race number as you cross the finish line.
KIDS SWIM RACECOURSES
START LINE
Start will be given sharply at 09:30 for both distances by a signal: “Get Set” AND a long sound of a HORN OR WHISTLE. This is a land start. All race categories will start simultaneously. All the swimmers must start after the horn. In the event of a false start, the race will stop, and all swimmers will be asked to return to the start line for a fresh start.
THE SWIM | Long Course: 1.25Km | Short Course: 0.5Km
Starting in a clockwise direction, swimmers can swim in any stroke they want towards buoy 1, which they must over-pass by leaving it on their right-hand-side. Next, swimmers continue to buoy 2 where they must take a right-hand turn leaving the buoy again on their right-hand-side and head to exit buoy 3 which they will have to leave on their right and head to the finish line.
Kids of the short distance (0.5km) will loop two times before they head to the finish line. The long distance (1.25Km) swimmers will have to do their loop five times before heading to the exit.
In case an athlete does not “clear” the buoys as described above, the option of a DSQ will be considered. Coaches and volunteers will help your swimmers to familiarize themselves with the course which will be clearly marked.
Water temperature will be measured at race morning and announced 60 min before the race start. Please observe wet suits regulations below:
⦁ Water temperature of 20 deg C and above: no wetsuit.
⦁ Water temperature between 18 and 19.9 deg C: swimmer can choose to wear a wetsuit or not.
⦁ Water temperature between 16 and 17.9 deg C: wetsuits are compulsory.
⦁ Water temperature below 15.9 deg C: swimmers should not be competing.
FINISH LINE
The finish line is at Alykes Beach and will be clearly located next to the Timing Area with sufficient identification/branding. Athlete race numbers must always be visible especially at the finish line. A well-placed identifier / body marked number will assist with your identification by the marshals who may ask for your race number upon your approach to the finish line. You are encouraged to voice your race number as you cross the finish line.
GENERAL RULES
CUT-OFF TIMES
No cut off times are applied to the any of the categories for the Paphos Open Water Marathon. All athletes who cross the finish line will be considered as finishers.
TIMING
All athletes will receive an electronic timing chip which they will wear on their ankle and secure it well. No timing will occur unless you wear the time chip throughout the duration of the race. Loss of the timing chip will be charged with €100.
BRANDED SWIM CUPS
All athletes will receive a branded Cyprus Swim Series swimming cap in their goody bag. You MUST wear the official race swim cap while you are in the water. If you need to use another swim cap, please wear it under the official race cap and inform a member of the registrations team.
PENALTIES AND DSQ
It is up to the discretion of the Race director and affiliated Marshals to impact a DSQ status to an athlete that has behaved in a non-sportsman like manner or has violated the rules of the sport. It is also the duty of a marshal to identify any falsity by the athlete and enforce a stop and go rule. All athletes are treated equally and fairly with safety and integrity considered to be paramount.
PARKING
Public Parking is available close to the venue. Please arrive early and allow sufficient time to get ready and avoid unnecessary hustle.
RECOVERY AREA
After the finish line athletes can proceed to the recovery/feed zone area. Water will be available for all swimmers. Toilets and showers are located next to the swim venue. All participants are kindly requested to respect the nature of the venue as well as the man-made facilities that have been so generously offered to us and to use the bins provided so no trace is left behind.
