THE Fiji National Sports Commission announced an upgrade of $400,000 for the Damodar City National Aquatic centre as Fiji gets set to host the 2016 Oceania Swimming Championships .
President of the Oceania Swimming Association (OSA), Denis Miller confirmed Fiji’s selection as host of the 2016 Oceania Swimming Championships.
The competition features countries such as New Zealand, Australia and Samoa and is held every two years, with the most recent edition having taken place in Auckland, New Zealand in May of 2014.
In his announcement, Miller did include the caveat of “conditionally” selected, as the hosting of the event is ultimately based on Government support, specifically support in funding of required facility upgrades.
If requirements are not adequately met, the OSA reserves the right to award the 2016 Championships to the other bidder, Papua New Guinea.
Sports Commission Chairman said Government would very much like the event to be hosted in Fiji and said as part of this $400,000 would be spend on getting the pool up to date.
“Next year is going to be one of the best years we’ve ever had,” Mazey said.
“Along the swimming pool being up-graded, the event is likely to be a qualifying event for Rio; it will be in June and the big thing about that is Oceania swimming includes Hawaii, Guam, Australia, New Zealand and if they all come because it is the qualifier for Rio it’s going to be a huge event, could be a two weeks event.”
The Oceania Swimming Championships traditionally include pool swimming, open water swimming, as well as synchronized swimming.
