British Swimming board unhappy with Olympic trials of foreign swimmers at the 2012 Olympics pool
National performance director, Michael Scott, has raised his concern on the international sports governing body, Federation Internationale de Natation’s (FINA) decision of conducting the Olympic trials at the London Olympics Aquatics Centre in March, 2012.
Scott 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 the British Championships will be organised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and FINA, which will be open for 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 Championships will be conducted just four months before the 2012 Olympics, so Scott expects a high amount of participation from European athletes. He said it was the only edge to Britain’s swimmers, but now it will be a golden chance for all aquatic
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 next year’s Olympics’ participant swimmers, and was 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 Olympics.
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 Olympians will not appreciate training in a short size pool, the
championships will be 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 the competition has not been finalised but it is decided that there will be different heats for home and international swimmers.
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