Robben Island to mainland swim race set for Freedom Day
Published March 18th, 2007 in General News. Tags: No Tags.A record number of about 100 long distance swimmers are to tackle the icy waters between Robben Island and Bloubergstrand on South Africa’s Freedom Day in the “Cadiz Vista Nova Freedom Swim.”
Robben Island’s Chief Executive Officer Paul Langa, said the island’s management had endorsed the race as it would contribute to promoting public awareness of the apartheid-era penal colony as a World Heritage site.
The event on 27 April will be well monitored and all parties, including swimmers, will be fully briefed to ensure compliance with environmental imperatives set in the Robben Island Museum Integrated Conservation Management Plan.
The 7.5km race began as an annual fund raising event six years ago by Vista Nova School, the largest school for children with learning disabilities and Cerebral Palsy in the Western Cape.
A sponsorship deal struck last year between the school and the Cadiz Financial Strategy Group came at an opportune time as funding had been inconsistent.
Cadiz CEO Ram Barkai said the intention was to raise the event into one of the world’s greatest ocean swims.
“We intend to link the swim to the symbolism and history that is characteristic of Robben Island. We have chosen April 27, Freedom Day and have called it the Freedom Swim for this very reason.
I’m very interested in doing this event. Prefer something a bit longer, but will do.
There is a group that arranges swim tours including the Greek islands.
Island hopping without being on a boat!
You can find out more by searching my Greece site.
Cheers,