STORY: China Mermaid Open Grand Final opens in Sanya
SHOOTING TIME: Dec. 12, 2024
DATELINE: Dec. 13, 2024
LENGTH: 00:00:14
LOCATION: SANYA, China
CATEGORY: SPORTS

STORYLINE:

The 2024 China Mermaid Open Grand Final, also doubling as the Asian Cup, kicked off on Thursday in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province.

The two-day event held in Atlantis Sanya, a landmark hotel in the city, has attracted over 70 athletes from 10 countries and regions, including China, South Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines.

According to the Fosun Tourism Group, one of the event's organizers, with 13,500 tonnes of pure seawater and an 11-meter-deep open-air setting, Atlantis, offers an exceptional stage for participants to showcase their skills. Spectators can enjoy a breathtaking view of the underwater performances through a massive 16.5-meter-wide, 10-meter-high high-transparency acrylic panel, allowing for an up-close appreciation of the elegance and allure of mermaid diving.

"As a perfect blend of sport and art, mermaid diving injects new vitality into the development of high-quality tourism," said Bao Jiangjun, CEO of the Fosun Tourism Group.

The event is organized by the Water Sports Administration Center of the General Administration of Sport of China and the Fosun Tourism Group, and co-sponsored by the China Water Ski, Underwater & Powerboat Federation, the Asian Underwater Federation, and the Hainan Provincial Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Sanya, China.
(XHTV)