SWIMMERS SET TO FACE CANADA AND FRANCE
British swimmers will go head-to-head with Canada and France
this summer at a tri-meet in Quebec City for those athletes
targeting the London 2012 Olympics.
Swimming Canada will host the Tri Nations Cup to coincide
with the 400th anniversary of Quebec City and the countries
involved in its foundation - Canada, Great Britain and France
- will all be involved.
It will provide a valuable opportunity for swimmers, who
narrowly missed out on selection to this summer's Beijing
Olympics, to compete at a major international event as their
development for 2012 continues.
"In this Olympic year it's crucial to have good competition
opportunities for athletes, coaches and support staff to build
experience as we approach the quadrennial to the London Games,"
explained Director of World Class Programmes John Atkinson.
"Not everybody will have the chance to compete at this
summer's Olympics but it's important to give athletes and
coaches another competitive focus so they continue the hard
work as we look beyond 2008.
"The Tri Nations Cup, European Junior and World Youth
Championships will offer athletes the opportunity to compete
on the international stage in an Olympic year as they continue
their progress."
Swimmers aged 22 and under for males and 20 and under for
females will compete just days before the Beijing Olympics
get underway with two places available per nation, per Olympic
event.
Britain's young swimmers will have the chance to put themselves
in contention for the squad bound for Canada at the British
Championships in Sheffield next month. The highest ranked
swimmers available, not attending the Olympic Games or European
Junior Championships, will be selected.
"This will be an exciting test for Britain's swimmers,"
said Atkinson. "Both Canada and France are strong in
the pool and it will give us an indication of where our swimmers
are in relation to world swimming."
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