Opening Ceremony — AOSI LCM Swimming Championships Bangkok 2026
The 6th Asian Open Schools Invitational (AOSI) Long Course Swimming Championships Bangkok 2026, held from 29 January to 1 February 2026, officially commenced with a vibrant opening ceremony on the first day of competition. The ceremony brought together country representatives, team officials, athletes, coaches, and invited guests in a celebration of international friendship and sporting excellence.
Maj. Gen. Tanon Seangnak, Vice President of the Thailand Aquatics Association
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The event began with a welcome address by Maj. Gen. Tanon Seangnak, Vice President of the Thailand Aquatics Association, who extended warm greetings to all participants and highlighted the significance of hosting one of the region’s largest youth and development-focused swimming championships.
In his address, he emphasized that the championship goes beyond medals and results, focusing on youth development, discipline, resilience, and sportsmanship. He encouraged athletes to compete with passion, respect one another, and build friendships that will last long beyond the competition. He also expressed Thailand’s pride in hosting the international swimming community and wished all athletes a successful and memorable championship.
A welcoming and appreciation speech was then delivered by Chanaka (Chana) Fernando, CEO of Global Aquatics, the event organizer. He acknowledged the continued guidance and support of the Thailand Aquatics Association and expressed gratitude to partners including the Royal Thai Air Force, the Air Force Club, the Sports Authority of Thailand, and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports for recognizing and supporting the growth of the AOSI platform.
Chanaka (Chana) Fernando, Founder & CEO of Global Aquatics
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He also welcomed international delegates, national federation representatives, Olympians, and swimming leaders from across Asia and beyond, noting that their presence reflects a shared commitment to youth development and the future of aquatics. Special appreciation was extended to sponsors, coaches, parents, volunteers, technical officials, and venue teams whose dedication made the championship possible.
Token of Appreciations
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Addressing the athletes directly, he emphasized that the event is about dreams, friendship, and unity through sport, and that every race contributes to building a stronger future for swimming in the region.
Sanctioned by the Thailand Aquatics Association, the AOSI LCM Swimming Championships Bangkok 2026 welcomed approximately 1,200 athletes from 21 countries, reinforcing its position as one of Asia’s most inclusive and internationally diverse swimming events for athletes ranging from grassroots to elite levels. Participating nations included Australia, Bhutan, Guam, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The opening ceremony set the tone for what would become an inspiring and high-performance championship, celebrating unity, excellence, and the shared passion for aquatics that continues to connect athletes and nations through AOSI.
