Gold Coast Aquatic Centre to host fully integrated Australian Swimming Championships

Swimming Australia has announced the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre will be hosting the 2023 Australian Age and Open Championships with the 14-day meet bringing together some of Australia’s most elite Olympic and Paralympic athletes, alongside the next generation of stars, in a completely integrated program for multi-class and able bodied swimmers.

The largest annual event on the Swimming Australia calendar, the Australian Championships will attract thousands of athletes and spectators to one of the country’s premier swimming venues from 7th to 20th April.

Swimming Australia Chief Executive, Eugénie Buckley, said it was exciting to have the event amalgamated once again and enthused “The Australian Championships are a wonderful celebration of our sport at all levels and it’s fantastic to see it delivered as a fully integrated event once again following the challenges of these past few years.

“To see our leading Olympic and Paralympic stars alongside that next wave of talent is not only an illustration of the incredible depth in Australian swimming, but also the enduring passion for our sport across the country.”

“We are very fortunate to host an event of this scale at a world leading high performance hub like the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre, which will provide a fitting stage for what will undoubtedly be an outstanding fortnight of performances.”

The 2023 Australian Age and Open Championships are supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland.

QLD Tourism and Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe notes “the Queensland Government is committed to attracting more elite events like the 2023 Australian Championships to deliver an early 2032 Games legacy.

“Swimming’s 2023 Age and Open Championships will bring more than 5,000 competitors and spectators to the Gold Coast and invest $5.26 million in the visitor economy.

“Upgraded for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre is a terrific example of infrastructure legacy supporting jobs, the visitor economy and Queensland’s great lifestyle.”

The event will also be delivered in conjunction with Major Events Gold Coast, continuing the fantastic relationship between Swimming Australia and the City of Gold Coast.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate added “It’s a huge coup to have another national championship at Gold Coast Aquatic Centre as it underscores the legacy benefits of hosting the games almost five years ago.

“I’m thrilled to see the 2023 program will integrate able-bodied and para-athletes. In 2018, we set the benchmark for this format through our GC2018 Commonwealth Games program, and the tradition continues.’’

Image courtesy of the HTS Group.