Lifesaving as an utterly purposeful sport as it aims to encourage rescuers – pool and ocean lifeguards – to maintain, develop and improve the physical and mental skills needed to save lives in the aquatic environment. A variety of different events test the athletes’ skills, fitness and motivation in situations not unlike those they encounter in their daily rescue work.

Here are just some of the lifesaving events featured during The World Games 2009 Kaohsiung: Beach Ocean Man; Beach Ocean Woman; Beach Rescue Board (M, W); Beach Surf Race (M, W); Pool Combined Rescue 100 M (M, W); Pool Obstacle Race 200 M (M, W);  Saving-A-Manekin 50 M (M, W); Saving-A-Manekin 100 M Fins (M, W); Pool/Beach Relay 10 (Mixed).