DECEMBER 7 - OFFICIALS from Sheffield have completed a fact-finding mission to the IPC World Swimming Championships in Durban as it continues to try to position itself as a city for overseas teams to train in before the 2012 Olympics.

 

Wayne Coyle from the Sheffield Steering Group travelled to Durban for a six-day fact finding mission.

 

He was there to observer the operational organisation of the Championships, seeing how city’s can capitalise from major sporting events, and observe the requirements and expectations of hosting major international paralympic sporting events with a view to attracting training camps in the run up to 2012.

 

 “Approximately 550 athletes from 50 countries participated in the championships making it one of the largest sport competitions for athletes with a disability after the Paralympic Games," said Coyle. 

 

"That makes it a hugely important date on the paralympic calendar.

 

“Durban has hosted the FINA World Cup for three years in succession and so the facilities at King’s Park Aquatic Centre more than adequately met the needs of swimmers with a disability and the personnel are experienced in hosting large-scale events.

 

"We are looking to liaise with, and learn from, representatives from the hosts Disability Sport South Africa, the IPC, IPC Swimming and Swimming South Africa.

 

“As well as looking at the standard of facility provision and assessing the requirements of hosting such competitions we wanted to raise the profile of Sheffield as a world class destination for major sporting events and sports training and holding camps for Olympic and paralympic athletes.”