BRITAIN IN FINAL CUT FOR 2010 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Great Britain has been confirmed as one of three nations
in the running to host the 2010 IPC Swimming World Championships.
Following an expression of interest submitted by British
Swimming in December, the International Paralympic Committee
(IPC) has announced Sheffield as one of three candidate cities.
But the host of the 1993 European Swimming Championships and
1996 World Masters Swimming Championships faces stiff competition
from 2007 European Swimming Championships hosts Eindhoven
(Holland) and Minneapolis (USA).
British Swimming will spearhead the British bid in partnership
with UK Sport and Sheffield City Council, proposing Ponds
Forge International Centre - one of the country's top swimming
facilities - as the venue.
Ponds Forge, managed by Sheffield International Venues, hosts
all three Disability Sports Events (DSE) Swimming Championships
each year, accommodating up to 400 athletes with a disability
at each event.
The IPC Swimming World Championships take place every four
years and is the second largest competition involving disability
swimming behind the Paralympics.
Britain has a strong history of Paralympic swimming and is
a leading country in the sport. Its team became back-to-back
World Champions in the pool after a successful campaign at
the 2006 World Championships in Durban, collecting 24 gold,
14 silver and 14 bronze medals.
British Swimming Chief Executive David Sparkes is delighted
Sheffield has made the final short-list and believes the 2010
World Championships will play a vital role in the country's
preparations for the London Paralympics.
"I'm delighted Sheffield has been selected as a candidate
city," said Sparkes. "A key part of our strategy
towards 2012 is to host the World Disability Championships
in 2010.
"We were the top nation in the pool in Durban last year
and it is our intention to top the table again in Sheffield
and at London 2012 to remain the leading force in disability
swimming."
British Paralympic Association Chief Executive Phil Lane
believes the World Championships would provide a fitting home
competition opportunity in the run-up to the 2012 Paralympics.
"We were delighted that Sheffield is in the running
to host the 2010 IPC Swimming World Championships," he
said.
"Facilities at Ponds Forge in Sheffield are of a very
high standard and have been used for both domestic and international
swimming championships for a number of years, so it is an
ideal venue to host such a championships.
"By topping the medal table at the 2006 World Championships,
Britain's swimmers showed they are among the best in the world.
"So if the bid is successful it would be a great opportunity
for Britain's established Paralympic swimmers to shine in
front of a home crowd, as well as serve as an inspiration
to Britain's aspiring Paralympians ahead of the London 2012
Games."
UK Sport International Director John Scott is in full support
of the bid and is looking forward to working with the key
partners.
"We are delighted to hear the news that Sheffield has
been invited to make a formal bid for these prestigious championships.
We look forward to working with all partners involved to progress
the project further."
|
