News
- The final countdown has begun.
- Posted 8th April 2008
- The Duncan Goodhew pool at the Manchester Evening News (MEN) Arena has been filled and athletes from around the globe are already warming up on the eve of the 9th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m). Tomorrow the eyes of the world will turn to watch what promises to be an electrifying opening ceremony and the start of a fierce and fantastic International competition.
The 5-day event kicks off with specially commissioned music and jaw dropping aerial dance and performance. Organisers are keeping tight lipped on what the world can expect from the ceremony, but all indications are that it will be one introduction to a FINA World Swimming Championships that will not be forgotten.
The event brings with it 3 firsts to Manchester, the first World Swimming Championships of its kind ever to be staged in the UK and with 130 different countries confirming the entry of over 800 athletes, it will be the biggest World Swimming Championships on record. It will also be the first time that a UK music and entertainment venue has been host to a competitive swimming event.
Speculation and hope is high in the lead up to the event. The last couple of months have seen an onslaught of new world records smashed as this year's swimming gets better and faster. Speedo's LZR Racer has helped athletes open the gate to a new era of record breaking swimming. Speedo sponsored athlete Ryan Loche said "Records are made to get broken and I think lots are going to get broken here."
Continuing the excitement outside the MEN, Manchester's Cathedral Gardens have been given an exciting, swimming championship touch to become Championship Square. Spiralling above the multitude of events in the square is the breathtaking Speedo The Evolution of Swimwear: An Exhibition. Travel through time and experience the birth of this iconic brand and its development through 80 years of Speedo's passion for swimming. As a dazzling finale, get up close and personal with the new, record breaking Speedo LZR Racer at the heart of the exhibition.
Speedo will be showing the entire event on a screen within the square so that those without tickets can follow the excitement as it happens. The Speedo Pop Up Store will also be landing in Manchester for the week, next to the exhibition.
Throughout the event, Championship Square will become a bustling festival, with free events and live music playing. Musical styles will come together from around the globe. Jazz from Cuba, funk from Brazil and home grown talent direct from Manchester in the form of Lucy and the Caterpillar and Josephine Niyama.
For news updates throughout the Championships keep checking www.speedo.com and www.speedo80.com. Speedo and Pentland blogs will also be update with the latest news.
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