GLOUCESTER WINS BID TO HOST EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
Gloucester is to host the European Junior Synchronised Swimming
Championships 2009 after LEN confirmed the bid had been successful.
LEN, the European federation for aquatic sports, awarded
the event to Gloucester at the European Swimming Championships
in Eindhoven, Holland and complimented the city on the quality
of the bid.
British Swimming Chief Executive David Sparkes has welcomed
the announcement which he sees as an integral part of synchronised
swimming development within the UK in readiness for the London
2012 Olympic Games.
Sparkes was in Holland to receive the good news on behalf
of a bid partnership between British Swimming, UK Sport, Gloucester
City Council and the South West Regional Development Agency.
"We've been pro-active in staging international events
in Britain over recent years and have had success with open
water, water polo and diving, we'll be hosting the World Swimming
Championships next month in Manchester and we've now turned
our attention to synchronised swimming," said Sparkes.
"It's all part of a process that involves building experience,
skills and knowledge across all aquatic disciplines in readiness
for the London Olympics in 2012.
"The event will give athletes the opportunity to compete
in a major international championships while building the
capacity within our volunteer and professional workforce,
and to enthuse a new generation of synchronised swimmers in
the lead up to the London 2012 Olympic Games."
The championships will coincide with a resurgence in British
synchronised swimming which this week saw the highest European
ranking achieved for many years.
"For us 2009 is right for us in terms of a synchronised
swimming nation," said Sparkes. "The impact that
National Performance Director Biz Price has been good for
the sport and this competition will enable us to showcase
our young athletes.
"Gloucester offers a good pool built very much with
television in mind and this will provide a perfect platform
for some of Europe's most talented young synchronised swimmers.
"LEN have seen the pool and think it's ideal for an
international competition of this calibre and Gloucester City
Council have been very helpful in securing this event."
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