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| Photo: Melbournepool// The temporary pool at the Rod Laver Arena. (Melbourne 2007) |
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(ATR) The world’s top swimmers and divers will be in Melbourne, Australia, for the 12th FINA World Championships, which begin Saturday. That makes Melbourne the first city to host the Olympics, Commonwealth Games and FINA World Championships.
The FINA championships will be held at three venues, including a temporary pool constructed at the Rod Laver Arena. The pool, which will host swimming and synchronized swimming, is named for Susie O’Neill, an eight-time Olympic medalist.
The temporary pool at Rod Laver Arena has been a target of controversy. Former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett is among many critical of the city’s decision to build the pool.
"I wouldn''t have spent $35 million on a swimming event without using the current infrastructure we have," he told broadcasters. "It is something we have pursued just to get another notch on our belt. You''ve got to when you pursue these events ask yourself ''What is the reason we want it?’”
Kennett also said that the event has lost a lot of its appeal in the last few years. "It doesn''t have the same critical mass, the same energy," he said. "I don''t know how they will fill it, but they will fill it in terms of people. They will give away the tickets or m
ake them very cheap."
Current premier Steve Bracks defended the city’s hosting of the world championships, saying that the event is still one of the top draws in the world.
"The world swimming championships are among the top four to five events in the world," Mr. Bracks said. "It''s one billion people who''ll see the event. It brings enormous audience reach, enormous profile. Things that other countries crave to get, that other states crave to get."
The other venues are the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (water polo and diving) and St Kilda Beach (open water swimming). Organizers say that 102,000 tickets have already been sold, and the hope is to double that amount before the start of the event.
As for the competition, an estimated 2000 athletes from 175 countries are expected to compete. This year’s event will be the first to offer prize money for medalists. A total purse of $2 million will be spread across the five disciplines. In addition, anyone that breaks a world record will receive a bonus $25,000.
The FINA World Championships continue until April 1.
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