The Dolphin Swimming League will begin its eighth season on Saturday, October 3, at Grange School, Ikeja, Lagos, with a record 23 schools and clubs set to compete.
Nigeria’s premier inter-school swimming league started in 2018 with just five schools but has steadily expanded into an important platform for identifying and developing young swimming talents.
The 23 participating institutions include Grange School, Lagos Preparatory Secondary School, Damswimm Club, Temple School, St. Saviour’s School, Makosail Swimming Academy, Foreshore School Ikoyi, AQUA Sports World Academy, The Learning Place, Greensprings School Lagos, Lagoon School and Whitesands School.
Others are Boken Aquatics Club, Children International School, C-Tribe Club, Greenwood School Ikoyi, Swimfinity Club Abuja, James Hope College, Meadow Hall, Corona Schools, Atlantic Hall, British International School, Riverbank School and Rugby School Nigeria.
Organised by Dynaspro Promotions Limited in partnership with Advanta Interactive Limited, the league is sanctioned by the Nigeria Aquatic Federation, Nigeria Olympic Committee and Lagos State Swimming Association.
This season will mark the first time a team from Abuja has participated, highlighting the league’s growing reach beyond Lagos.
The organisers have also separated the elementary and secondary school categories to promote fairer competition. The opening weekend will focus on elementary swimmers competing in more than 30 events.
Ahead of the new season, an orientation clinic was held at Rowe Park, Yaba, where coaches, officials and other stakeholders were trained on updated World Aquatics regulations.
The organisers also introduced measures aimed at improving officiating and race accuracy, including cameras for monitoring races and assisted timing devices designed to reduce human errors.
League coordinator Oluseyi Oyebode said the organisers remained committed to raising the standard of the competition and expanding its reach to other parts of the country.
He said Abuja and other South-West states had been identified as potential destinations as the league continues its expansion.
Oyebode added that last year’s long-course event, organised in partnership with the Lagos State Sports Commission, provided a strong foundation for the league’s continued growth.
Over the years, the competition has helped produce young swimmers who have gone on to represent Nigeria at regional and continental competitions, further strengthening its role in the development of the country’s swimming talent.
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