Melbourne to replace Russia as host of FINA swimming world championships

Melbourne has today been announced as the host the 16th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m), replacing Russia as the host of the event.

Originally scheduled for the Russian city of Kazan, the hosting of the event in December will be the first FINA event in Australia since Melbourne hosted the 2007 FINA World Swimming Championships.

The hosting was revealed by Swimming Australia and FINA, in conjunction with the Victorian Government and Visit Victoria.

It marks the first time the short course format event will be held in Australia, with the meet to be contested at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC).

Speaking today at MSAC, Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Martin Pakula advised “hosting the FINA World Swimming Championships shows Melbourne is one of the world’s great sporting cities.”

Swimming Australia Chief Executive, Eugénie Buckley, believes Melbourne will provide the perfect backdrop for an event of this stature, noting “Melbourne is one of the great sporting and cultural epicentres in the world and we are excited to welcome the best athletes from across the globe to the Victorian capital for this event - particularly at a state-of-the-art facility like MSAC.

“Our country has a proud history of hosting world leading events and I have no doubt our swimming community, and the broader public will embrace this event with the passion and energy synonymous with Australian sporting fans.”

The six-day event, running from 13th to 18th December, is anticipated to attract more than 2,500 participants , team members and officials from over 180 countries and up to 60,000 attendees over the six days.

In addition to the world championships, Melbourne will host international delegates from 180 countries for the FINA Congress and FINA Awards immediately following the conclusion of the competition in the pool.

Image: Swimming Australia Chief Executive Eugénie Buckley (left) and Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Martin Pakula (seated) in front of media at MSAC at today's announcement of Melbourne's hosting of the FINA World Swimming Championships. Credit: Melbourne Sports Centres.