Dwight Vermeer represents St. Maarten at World Aquatics Congress in Singapore

GREAT BAY/SINGAPORE--President of the St. Maarten Aquatic Federation Dwight Vermeer represented the island at the General Congress of World Aquatics, held during the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore.

During the Congress, Ms. Maureen Croes, President of PanAm Aquatics, was elected Vice President of World Aquatics, a development that strengthens the representation of the Americas and Caribbean region within the global aquatic sports body. Croes has played a pivotal role in advancing aquatic sports across the Americas, and her election is seen as a major opportunity for regional growth and influence.

Key announcements during the Congress included the selection of host countries for future World Championships:

• Beijing, China will host the 2026 edition

• Budapest, Hungary will host the 2027 edition

In a major policy announcement, World Aquatics introduced the upcoming launch of the Post-Career Compensation Fund, a $10 million initiative designed to support professional athletes in their transition to post-competitive life. The federation also reported a record-breaking 119 athletes receiving scholarships in the past year, encouraging national federations to continue enrolling their top athletes as more training facilities are being developed worldwide.

World Aquatics also confirmed the relocation of its head office to Budapest, where a new state-of-the-art global training center will also be established.

President Vermeer livestreamed portions of the Congress on the St. Maarten Aquatic Federation Facebook page, allowing residents of Sint Maarten to follow the developments in real time. Off-camera, Vermeer engaged in high-level discussions with several international aquatic leaders and federations interested in exploring collaborations with St. Maarten. These included:

• Hayke Veldman, President of the Royal Dutch Swimming Federation (KNZB)

• Professor Kenneth Goh, President of the Singapore Swimming Association

• Sheikh Abdulla Attiya, President of the Bahrain Swimming Federation

• Johnny Cheng, President of the Aruba Swimming Federation

• Tyrone Hughes, Aquatics official from Anguilla

Additionally, Vermeer connected with Dexter Brown, a top coach from Trinidad and Tobago, who expressed interest in supporting clinics and athlete exchanges with Sint Maarten. Vermeer is also scheduled to meet with Team USA Head Coach Anthony Nesty to discuss training camp opportunities and collaboration for SXM swimmers in the United States.

“These interactions reflect the growing recognition of Sint Maarten’s transition and development in aquatic sports,” said Vermeer, who assumed leadership of the St. Maarten Aquatic Federation in August 2023. “We are building partnerships, securing visibility, and showing the world that Sint Maarten is committed to excellence in aquatics.”

Vermeer, the youngest serving President of any national aquatic federation, holds a Master’s degree in Sport Management, is a former national coach of Suriname, and competed as an open water swimmer. He currently serves as a Senior Detective with the Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM).

For updates on aquatic sports in Sint Maarten, visit the St. Maarten Aquatic Federation Facebook page.

‍