BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series to present a unique festival of elite and mass participation aquat

In an Australian first, the BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series is set to combine a unique festival of elite and mass participation aquatic sport, headlined by the Australian swim team taking on the might of the Chinese and South African swim teams.
To be held from 18th to 20th January 2013, the BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series is set to deliver a world-class program of pool events at Challenge Stadium in Perth, complemented by two international water polo matches and a series of elite and mass participation open-water races.
The series will also see coaches, swimmers and water polo players, past and present, embark on a regional community engagement program that will engage communities throughout regional and metropolitan Western Australia with the event and its sports.
The BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series will also be the only time that the Australian Water Polo and Swim Teams get to compete on the same stage, with the exception of the World Championships or Olympic Games.
Funded by $2.1 million from the Western Australian Government's Royalties for Regions program, the Regional Engagement Program will see numerous activities staged across the State in the lead up to the BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series in 2013-15.
Speaking recently, Western Australian Tourism Minister Kim Hames explained "the Department of Sport and Recreation together with Swimming Australia, Swimming WA and WA Water Polo have committed to running activities linked to the event in a number of regional venues.
"The Regional Community Engagement Program will culminate in swimming and water polo clinics; 'come and try' days for both sports; and talent identification activities, all delivered by Australia's elite athletes and coaches visiting regional areas in the week immediately preceding the BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series in Perth.
"The elite pool, water polo and open water competition in Perth will be fantastic, but the State Government, Swimming Australia, Swimming WA, WA Water Polo and major sponsor BHP Billiton want the event to also reach into the regions.
"We see the Regional Community Engagement Program as a great opportunity to engage people beyond the metropolitan area in the event, while at the same time promoting those sports and a healthy lifestyle.
"BHP Billiton has been a driving force behind the Regional Community Engagement Program and the company, which is such a big player in regional WA, deserves our gratitude."
When launching the Series recently, Dr Hames said it would become a feature on the international sporting calendar, adding "in the pool at Challenge Stadium we'll see the Australian swim team take on the might of the Chinese and South African national teams in a world-class program that will thrill spectators and national and international television viewers alike
"There will also be international water polo matches featuring the Australian men's and women's teams, and elite and mass participation open-water events.
"Eventscorp is developing an exciting and diverse events calendar for WA."
The open water swim location for the BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series is still to be confirmed.

http://www.aquaticsuperseries.com.au