Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh and city officials meet with Rotarians Peter Malhotra, Philip Wall Morris, Brendan Kelly and Dennis Stark to discuss postponing the annual Rotary Cross Bay Charity Swim.
A prolonged rainy season has forced the delay of the Rotary Cross Bay Charity Swim until Nov. 21.
Members of the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya and Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh agreed on the two-week postponement at a Nov. 3 meeting.
Pratheep S. Malhotra, Past District Governor of Rotary District 3340 said the delay was necessary as monsoon rains have continued into November, creating too much uncertainty over the weather.
The competition will now take place Nov. 21 with two swims starting at different locations. Swimmers making the main 3.5 km swim will begin at Bali Hai Pier and finish at the Dusit Thani Hotel. Those making a shorter 1.1 km swim will begin at the Hard Rock Hotel and will also finish at the Dusit Thani.
City officials agreed to station 20 marine rescuers and 10 rescue boats along the route to provide assistance to swimmers. Another 15 city municipal officers will manage land traffic along the route.
The annual charity swim raises funds for youth scholarships, clean drinking water and health care for the poor.
Swimmers are mainly residents of Pattaya and the eastern seaboard and a large number of competitors come from international schools in Pattaya and Bangkok.
