Swimming Australia confirms 2021 Age Championships will proceed on the Gold Coast

Swimming Australia has confirmed that the 2021 Australian Age Swimming Championships, which includes the Australian Multi-Class Swimming Championships, will proceed as planned on the Gold Coast from Monday.

With Brisbane and surrounding areas having been locked down this week, today’s easing announcement from the Queensland Government, means the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre will stage the Championships from 5th April.

Swimming Australia acknowledged that the delay in confirmation over the previous 48 hours had caused uncertainty, advising “we wanted to ensure we had the most up-to-date information and confirmation from Queensland Health before making any final decisions”.

It added “with the lockdown ceasing at midday today and the Queensland Premier stating Greater Brisbane will no longer be classified as a hot spot, Swimming Australia is pleased the championships can take place responsibly under the approved Swimming Pool and Aquatic Centre Industry Plan.

“While a number of potential alternatives were considered during the thorough decision-making process, based on the advice of the Queensland government and our Chief Medical Officer, we have made the decision to proceed as planned.

“With the Queensland Government giving outdoor events with a COVIDSafe plan the green light, Swimming Australia wants to give these athletes the race experience they have been craving and deserve.”

Swimming Australia acknowledged “regretfully” that athletes in Western Australia are unable to attend due to a hard border closure with Queensland, going on to “thank Swimming WA for organising an event for those athletes to have racing opportunity”.

Swimming WA has organised an event for those athletes to have a racing opportunity and Swimming Australia has announced it will provide medals to any WA swimmer who swims a podium place time - to acknowledge those performances, similar to visitor medals.

It then added that with the Championships “being an outdoor event where social distancing may not always be possible, athletes, coaches, officials and staff will all be required to wear face masks onsite at all times other than when racing or warming up. Spectators will be required to wear masks unless seated in their seating location.

“Swimming Australia advises that all attendees and their families familiarise themselves with the current exposure sites as listed on Queensland Health and follow the advice provided.”

Greater Brisbane and surrounding areas had been in a three-day lockdown after a COVID-19 outbreak in south east Queensland and in Byron Bay in northern NSW last weekend.

The 2021 Australian Age Swimming Championships run from 5th to 12th April followed by the 2021 Australian Swimming Championships from 14th to 18th April.

Image: The 2021 Australian Age Swimming Championships, which includes the Australian Multi-Class Swimming Championships, will be held at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre from Monday. Credit: Gold Coast Aquatic Centre.