Bid process for swimming Worlds and Euros opens

“Swimming attracted the most accumulated global TV viewers during the whole of London 2012, so the chance to host these great festivals of sport should be irresistible to potential organisers.”

IPC Swimming has launched a call for organisers to bid to host the 2017 World and 2018 European championships, which will follow the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Last year, the 2013 IPC Swimming World Championships in Montreal, Canada, attracted over 480 athletes from 53 countries in the year following the biggest and most successful Paralympic Games in London 2012.

In 2015, the next edition of the World Championships will be held with around 700 athletes from 60 countries predicted to gather in Glasgow, Great Britain, from 19-26 July, proving the participation and profile of para-swimming is growing year-on-year.

The 2018 IPC Swimming European Championships, which follow on from this years’ edition in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, from 4-10 August, are an opportunity for fans and the media to continue following the journey of swimming and see the biggest names compete on an international stage once again.

In addition to the international attention that these competitions attract, IPC Swimming provides a range of technological and financial support to organisers including online entry and accreditation systems for athletes and media and subsidisation of some competition costs, as well as expertise and knowledge. As part of this partnership approach, bidders should provide international standard competition and accommodation facilities, as well as make provision for a host broadcaster and media attendance at the competitions.

Speaking from a Coordination Commission visit to Rio de Janeiro, IPC Chief Executive Officer Xavier Gonzalez said:

“Rio 2016 has the potential to exceed all expectations and the 2017 and 2018 IPC Swimming World and European Championships will be an opportunity for countries, cities, communities, media and fans to be part of that growth and bring it to even greater heights.

“Swimming attracted the most accumulated global TV viewers during the whole of London 2012, so the chance to host these great festivals of sport should be irresistible to potential organisers.”

Prospective bidders have until 31 August 2014 to submit their applications to the address outlined in the bid document. Bid documents and factsheets can be found at the bid for future competitions page of IPC Swimming.