Update of number of contestants for FINA swimming championships

24/9/97

The first world record has been set at the 8th FINA World Swimming Championships.

Early today, 102 nations had committed to attend the championships from January 8 to 18 next year.

By lunchtime, this had risen to 105 - one more nation than the previous record set in Rome at the 1994 titles.

Sport and Recreation Minister Norman Moore announced the record while taking part in the official launch of the championships at the Challenge Stadium diving pool today.

Mr Moore said that with 106 days to go, 105 nations had committed to attend compared with 59 which came to Perth for the world titles in 1991.

"Another key objective is to successfully develop, manage and present to the world an event of the highest international calibre," he said.

The Minister said there would be more than 1,200 media representatives reporting on the championships in Perth.

And the television audience was expected to be over three times the 500 million who watched the titles in Perth in 1991.

"Locally, the big push starts today," Mr Moore said.

"There are significant benefits for Western Australia, with between 6,000 and 7,000 visitors expected and an estimated economic impact of $35 million."

He said that state-of-the-art facilities also were being developed at Challenge Stadium for the media and public as well as the corporate sector.

He applauded the efforts of all involved in putting the championships together, including the organising committee, various sub-committees and event staff.

"The impact of such a collective commitment will raise and promote the event and our cultural and tourism profiles both within and outside Australia," Mr Moore said.

Media contact: Hartley Joynt, Minister's office (08) 9 321 1444