Swimming Canada has announced Montreal as the first ever North American host for the IPC Swimming World Championships in 2013, the organization announced today. The event will make use of the site of the 2005 World Aquatics Championships at the Parc Jean-Drapeau.
The meet will be held from August 11th-17th and continues an effort by Swimming Canada to revitalize the sport in French-speaking Quebec, which reeled after a money-losing effort to host the world’s best in 2005. They hosted the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Trials in Montreal as well.
Canada is one of the best Para-swimming countries in the nation, especially compared to the relative size of their population; at the 2012 Summer Paralympics they took 16 medals, including 4 gold, out of the 444 offered.
Swimming Canada is proud to announce Montreal as the host city for the 2013 International Paralympic Committee Swimming World Championships. Among the stars are Benoit Huit, who won the SM10 200 IM in an upset over Brazilian star Andre Brasil and was the closing ceremonies flag bearer; and Summer Mortimer, who won gold in both the women’s S10 100 backstroke and the S10 50 free. Mortimer was an Olympic Trials qualifier in 2008 at just 15 years old for Canada, but after an accident while competing as a competitive trampoliner shattered most of the bones in her feet, she began relearning as one of the world’s best para swimmers.
“We are very excited about Montreal staging the IPC Swimming World Championships as it is a city with an excellent track record for staging major international sporting events,” said IPC CEO Xavier Gonzalez. “Many of the swimmers who competed at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, breaking 148 world records, will compete in Montreal. Just like in London I expect them to thrill spectators and TV viewers around the globe with their sensational performances.”
As for the impact that Canada is hoping for from this event, Swimming Canada’s para head coach Craig McCord said “We’ve got the ability to leverage this event into a huge recruitment and awareness opportunity for para-swimming and other para-sport in Canada.”
More information is available at the event website at www.ipcswimmingworlds2013.org.