Press release of the FAROS marathon organization committee
FAROS is a marathon that needs no explanation or advertisement. A fact that this competition has been taking place for last 38 years without interruption speaks for itself. Even without being a member of FINA Grand Prix and with no large prize pool FAROS has gained a world sports cult status
thanks to the enormous enthusiasm, love and passion of its organizers. This is what makes FAROS what it is - ONE, UNIQUE and UNREPEATABLE, which is best confirmed by its membership in the Hall of Fame!
An important part of FAROS tradition is an unchanging date when it takes place - every year on the last weekend in August, so that this year's date, 31st of August, was known immediately upon the end of FAROS 2012.
On 10th of January 2013 we received the information that the Capri-Napoli Grand Prix shifted its traditional (June) to 1st of September 2013, so that it is taking place just one day after FAROS.
Since that is the last obligatory Series marathon, we contacted the organizers and asked for them to pick a new date in September, but we were not successful. We were deliberating whether to break with the tradition and shift the FAROS date to 24th of August, but our decision was made easy by the fact that on that date the Ohrid Grand Prix takes place. Since they choose their date upon our insistence in November 2012 that the two competitions take place with one week from each other (like they did in 2012), we have decided that FAROS definitely takes place on 31st of August 2013!
On the other hand, the Sabac Grand Prix has been cancelled, while Ohrid has reduced they prize pool to just $10000, which means that there are some hard times coming for FINA Grand Prix. Unless FINA starts to treat the Grand Prix like the other sports associations (skiing, athletics, triathlon, Champions League, Formula One) treat their events (by promoting the competitions and helping them financially by finding sponsors and marketing) the future of Grand Prix does not look bright. For that reason and until the situation changes, FAROS will stay out of FINA Grand Prix (despite their insistence on joining).
In the name of the Organisational Committee we apologize in advance to all swimmers who will not be able to participate on both of these important world marathons. Aware of the situations, we will highly appreciate every marathon swimmer who answers our invitation and participates on FAROS 2013, and so becomes part of the famous history of this unique world marathon spectacle.
Dear friends, fellow swimmers we are glad to inform you that this summer Altiora organises the first open water swimming camp in Croatia. In the last decade Croatian open water swimming society significantly grew. Croatian Long Distance Swimming Association organises Croatian Cup, national long distance swimming competition that year by year attracts more and more swimmers ..... 
Croatian President Ivo Josipovic has accepted the patronage of this year's 38th International Croatian Swimming Championship in Long-distance Swimming - also known by its popular name "Faros Marathon". President Josipovic sent the following letter to the Faros Marathon director Vicko Soljan:
