THE Fiji Schools Swimming competition was used as a testing platform for the Oceania Swimming Championships.

OSC media liaison officer David Eyre said with the renovations complete, the schools competition allowed them to test the new blocks and the electronic timers.

“This gives us a fair idea of what to expect at the Oceania event,” Eyre said.

“There won’t be as many participants as we have today, maybe around 200 athletes, but again this was a good testing platform.”

He said the Oceania Swimming Championships also served as qualifier for the World Swimming Championships in Budapest next year.

“As a result, Australia will be bringing in more athletes.

“To compete in the World Championships, you need to compete in a qualifying event and this just happens to be one of them,” he said.

The Oceania Swimming Championships is scheduled for next month and will be held at the Damodar City Aquatic Centre, Suva.