23 January 2009
In the swim as Australia choose
Manchester
Manchester has been chosen as the training camp for the
Australian Olympic Swimming Team, in the run up to the London
Olympic Games in 2012.
Swim Australia, one of the world’s biggest and most high profile
teams, has signed a long-term deal with Manchester City Council,
which will see them train at the Manchester Aquatics Centre in
preparation for at least three major competitions until 2014.
The deal has been supported by the Northwest Regional
Development Agency as part of their role in helping to secure
training camps for the region in the lead up to London 2012. This
adds to announcements in late 2008 that Thailand and the 15 Pacific
Island nations in Oceania have agreed to base themselves in
England’s Northwest.
Marketing Manchester and Manchester Sport and Leisure Trust, who
manage the Manchester Aquatics Centre, have also worked closely
with Manchester City Council to make this agreement possible, which
is one of the biggest signings for the country to date in the lead
up to London 2012, and further strengthening Manchester’s profile
and reputation on the international stage.
The news demonstrates the wider UK benefits of hosting the 2012
Olympics in London and is further proof of Manchester’s tremendous
sporting legacy, borne out of the Commonwealth Games in 2002.
Swim Australia’s training programme in the city will commence
this summer prior to the World Swimming Championships in Rome,
before returning in 2012 to prepare for the London Olympic Games
and again in 2014, ahead of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
The team will utilise both 50-metre pools at the Manchester
Aquatic Centre, a purpose built, state-of-the-art venue which
regularly hosts world class swimming events and is home to the
highly successful British Paralympic swimming team.
Councillor Mike Amesbury, Executive Member for Culture and
Leisure at Manchester City Council said: “We’re absolutely
delighted that a swimming team of Australia’s calibre has chosen
Manchester as its training base for these world events. It is
testament to the sports facilities and infrastructure that
Manchester has available for elite athletes such as Swim Australia
that they have opted to train here for their next three
international competitions. We look forward to welcoming them to
the city and wish them every success now and in the future.”
Peter Mearns, NWDA Executive Director of Marketing &
Communications, said: "Today's announcement is yet another coup for
Manchester, and the Northwest, in our bid to host world-class
athletes ahead of London 2012. The Agency is delighted that Swim
Australia has decided to take advantage of all the region has to
offer - not only our excellent training camps infrastructure but
also our outstanding culture and passion for sport. We very much
look forward to capitalising on the economic benefits of this
announcement and will continue to work closely with our partners to
attract more countries to England's Northwest."
Andrew Stokes, chief executive of Marketing Manchester, the
agency charged with promoting the city on a national and
international stage, said: “Manchester is quite rightly regarded as
one of the world’s great sporting cities. Last year we put our
stamp on six world championship sports events, not least of all the
FINA World Swimming Championships, which were staged in a unique
way and showcased one of our best venues - the MEN Arena. Swim
Australia’s decision to train in Manchester is a great coup for the
city and provides further evidence of the city-region’s
international appeal.”
Swim Australia is one of the world’s best swimming teams and is
frequently placed in the top two, along with the USA. Their
incredible performance at the Beijing Olympics 2008 saw almost 50%
of the country’s gold medals won in the swimming pool, with the
team also picking up six silver and eight bronze medals.”
For more Manchester City Council information visit www.manchester.gov.uk
For information on the Manchester Aquatics Centre please visit
www.manchestersportandleisure.org
ENDS
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Claire Keegan, Manchester City Council Press Office tel: 0161 234
4014
For the NWDA: Rachel Ormandy, Senior Press Officer tel: 01925
400237
For Marketing Manchester, Trevor Evers, Press & PR Manager tel:
0161 238 4542
Notes to editors
Swim Australia will spend a total of 532 nights in Manchester,
resulting in great financial benefit to the city.