British Swimming Board unhappy of conducting Olympic trials for foreign players at the Olympic pool
National performance director, Michael Scott has raised his concern on the international sports governing body, FINA’s decision of conducting Olympic trials at the London Olympics Aquatics Centre in March, 2012.
Scott has admitted that he does not want swimmers of other countries to enter the £268 million pool before the Olympic Games. He said that British Swimming would have also appreciated if the pool remains solely for Britain’s athletes until the Olympics,
as this would be the optimum home benefit for them.
While expressing his concern, the director said, “Originally we wanted it closed with British swimmers, nobody else. We want home advantage as much as we can and our swimmers to be in the pool.”
Scott said that though the event will be British Championships, it is organised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and FINA, so it will remain open for the participation of international athletes. “We are working through the mechanics but there
will be a British final and a foreign final. That is the intent, there are some discussions to go with FINA and the IOC,” he added.
The Championship will be conducted just four months before 2012 Olympics, so Scott expects a high amount of participation from European athletes. He says it was the only edge to Britain’s swimmers but now it will be a golden chance for all aquatics athletes
to know the pool and get used to its water before the Olympics.
The problem initiated with the identification of Mountbatten Aquatics Centre’s failure to qualify for Olympic standards. The pool was designed to reside the next year’s Olympics’ participant swimmers and to be used by them for their training. After its completion,
it was found that the pool is right up to 50 metres and with the installation of 2 inches wide sensitive touch systems, it would fall 2 inches short for the Olympians.
They had planned to keep all international swimmers training in that pool but with the encountered problem, Mountbatten Centre is now only suitable for age district swimming championships. As the Olympians will not appreciate training in a short size pool.
So, the championship is organised at the Olympic pool.
Moreover, Scott’s request of keeping the pool to locals only was turned down by the London Organising Committee. He also requested to arrange a separate event for international swimmers in January at the Olympic pool but his request was also denied saying
that the event cannot be conducted earlier than March due to its mechanical issues. The schedule for competition has not been finalised but it is decided that there will be different heats for home and international swimmers.
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