In this short ceremony at the United Nations, several open water swimming superstars gathered in a celebration of friendship and peace.

FAnne Cleveland, an International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Honor Swimmer, Martin Strel, a world record holder in river stage swimming, Dr. Jane Katz, a renowned author and a visionary leader in the field of aquatics, Captain Tim Johnson, a renowned tidal expert and International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame inductee, Dr. John Chung, one of the members of Ventura Deep Six, the 2010 World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year awardee, Tom Ball, another member of Ventura Deep Six, Anne Marie Ward, a North Channel and English Channel swimmer who was the 2010 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year, Nuala Moore, a renowned marathon swimming coach, Ram Barkai, a renowned extreme cold-water swimmer from South Africa who was among the first to swim around Cape Horn were among those in attendance.

The dove was released by Gary Foote who represented Colonel Nejib Belhedi of Tunisia and his 1400K Swim Across Tunisia exploit as part of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame ceremonies and Global Open Water Swimming Conference in New York City in June 2011. The dove was released as a symbol of peace and congratulations to Tunisia. Open water swimming has been celebrated and practiced in Tunisia since 1991 where the Tunisian Army organized the first crossing at Kerkennah-Sfax.



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