London Confirms Bid For Euro Swim Champs

British Swimming has announced that London is an official bid city for the 2016 LEN European Swimming Championships with the proposal largely based around the capital’s new Aquatics Centre.

The Swimming Championships involves swimming, diving and synchronised swimming events, and the bid comes with the full backing of Mayor of London Boris Johnson and the Mayor’s promotional organisation London & Partners, UK Sport and the Olympic Park Legacy Company. 

The official bid was finalised with LEN representatives at a House of Lords reception hosted by UK Sport Chair Baroness Sue Campbell.

British Swimming chief executive David Sparkes said: ‘The agreement to work with LEN on a partnership to bring the 2016 European Championships to London will ensure the Olympic pool has an events legacy and will allow our athletes to prepare for their next Olympic milestone, Rio de Janeiro.’

‘A successful bid would also provide an additional legacy in terms of inspiring people within the surrounding boroughs to participate in swimming and to enjoy the health benefits this brings.’

A decision from European governing body is expected in September at the LEN Bureau Meeting in Portugal.

Simon Morton, UK Sport’s director of major events and international relations, added: ‘UK Sport is leading the work to use London 2012 as a catalyst to bring some of the world’s biggest international sporting events to the UK.’

‘In the past 12 months alone we’ve been able to use our position as an Olympic host nation to help secure future World Championships for the UK in Athletics, Gymnastics, Triathlon and Canoe Slalom. The 2016 European Swimming Championships, in the spectacular Olympic Aquatics Centre, would make a fantastic addition to this programme of major international events.’

‘We are working closely with British Swimming and the other event partners to finalise a strong funding package and a compelling bid proposal, which we hope will demonstrate to LEN why they should entrust the UK with hosting their most prestigious event in 2016.’