70 fans heading to Paris to cheer on Estonian swimmers at European Championships

TALLINN – Approximately 70 supporters are travelling to Paris for the European Swimming Championships to cheer on Estonian athletes. For the first time at a major championship, the activities of Estonian swimming fans are being collectively organized, with supporters set to stand out in Paris with matching fan shirts and national symbols.

The fan group will be wearing blue shirts and will bring Estonian flags, horns, and other fan gear to ensure that Estonian swimmers receive the strongest and most visible support possible at the Saint-Denis Olympic Aquatics Centre. According to Pille Aule, Secretary General of the Estonian Swimming Federation, the presence of such a large and coordinated fan group is a landmark moment for Estonian swimming and could give the athletes a significant extra boost.

“Swimmers spend a large part of their training and daily life training individually in the pool, and at major championships, the results are often decided by very small details. Knowing that such a large group of Estonian fans is cheering for them together in the stands will definitely give the athletes positive energy. Such an initiative also helps to bring swimming closer to the public and build a stronger community around the sport,” Aule said.

According to Priit Pajumaa, head of FenixBet, which is supporting the fan group's initiative, the aim of the support is to bring more of a unified fan culture to Estonian swimming and to give athletes the feeling that they are not competing alone on the international stage.

“Swimming in Estonia has so far been primarily an individual sport, but athletes must also have a strong and united community behind them. In Paris, for the first time, we want to bring Estonian swimming fans together so that our supporters are clearly visible and audible in the stands. Seventy Estonian fans in matching shirts, with flags and united cheering, will already create a very considerable force,” said Pajumaa.

Raivo Tribuntsov, a member of the fan group traveling to Paris, confirmed that the supporters are ready to cheer loudly for the Estonian swimmers.

“We are going to Paris primarily to experience the atmosphere and to cheer on the Estonian swimmers. Every time one of our athletes reaches a semi-final or final is a big deal for Estonia, and we want them to feel strong support from the stands,” explained Tribuntsov. “At the same time, Paris is a city with a lot to discover, and I believe this trip will create lifelong memories regardless of the final results. While 10–15 years ago there were only four of us in the fan stands at major championships, now nearly 70 people are coming along. Such growth clearly shows that swimming is becoming increasingly popular and that our athletes have a strong and growing fan base behind them.”

The European Swimming Championships in Paris began on July 31 and will last until August 16. The main spectacle takes place from August 10 to 16 at the Saint-Denis Olympic Aquatics Centre, built for the Paris Olympic Games, where Estonia's top swimmers will compete in the pool.

Among them is Ralf Tribuntsov, who is personally supported by FenixBet.