New South Australian State Aquatic Centre to host Olympic swimming trials

Adelaide has replaced Sydney as the home of Australia's Olympic swimming selection trials.

Swimming Australia announced the 2012 Australian Swimming Championships, doubling as the trials for the London Olympic and Paralympic selections, will be held at the new $100 million South Australian State Aquatic and Leisure Centre.

It marks the first time the Olympic trials have been held outside Sydney's Olympic Park Aquatic Centre in over a decade and is big win for South Australia with NSW beaten in the bidding for the 2012 championships.

Canberra in 1992 was the last time an Olympic trials was held outside Sydney although Hobart and Brisbane have recently hosted Australian championships in non-Olympic years.

Commenting on the change, Swimming Australia Chief Executive Kevin Neil stated “the state of South Australia has invested heavily in the development of a fantastic facility and has shown great foresight and commitment to the development of the sport.”

Neil said the recent Australian Age Championships, with more than 1500 competitors, showed the venue was capable of hosting major events and feedback from athletes and coaches was very positive.

It will be the first time since the 1997 Pan-Pacific selection trials that a major swimming meet has been held in Adelaide.

Olympic gold medallist Libby Trickett reacted quickly to the news that Adelaide had been given hosting rights.

Trickett tweeted "Big news that Olympic trials for us swimmers next year will be in Adelaide”, then adding

"First time in my career it's not in Sydney. Nervous but excited!"

Adelaide will also host the 2013 Australian Swimming Championships, which will act as selection trials for the FINA World Championships, and the 2013 Australian Age Swimming Championships.

South Australian Premier Mike Rann said securing these three major events heralded a new era for elite swimming in the State, commenting “securing these events reinforces the value of our investment in the new SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre, both in securing major events and in supporting the sport of swimming in South Australia.”
AAP

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