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Friday, July 11, 2008

Speedo Championship Series Makes a Splash with Record Attendance

Categories: press releases

 

Media Contact:

 

Emily Ward, IU SRSC, emiward@indiana.edu or 812.855.9693

or

Mike McAfee, BMCCVB, mike@visitbloomington.com or 812.355.7720

 

2008 Speedo Championship Series Makes a Splash in Bloomington

 

A record-breaking 810 swimmers will compete in this USA Swimming sanctioned event.

 

Bloomington -  Indiana University’s Counsilman/Billingsly Aquatic Center is once again gearing up to host the Speedo Championship Series swimming event.  This major tournament series showcases some of the top swimming talent in the country and will take place July 15-19. The annual event is sanctioned by USA Swimming and has been approved as a national championship certification meet. The Speedo Champions Series is open to all swimmers who are registered with Ohio, Lake Erie, Indiana or Michigan Swimming. Medals are awarded to swimmers finishing eighth place or higher in individual or relay events. Awards will be presented to the top three teams in combined, men’s or women’s categories.

 

The Indiana University Division of Recreational Sports and the Hoosier Sports Corporation, a Division of the Bloomington/Monroe County Convention and Visitors Bureau, are proud of the partnership that has helped to bring this event to Bloomington for the fourth time. According to Laura Newton, Assistant Director of the CVB, over 800 swimmers will take part in this year’s Speedo Champions Series, bringing with them coaches, officials and other out-of-town visitors. That’s a record-breaking attendance for this event and organizers are thrilled to be welcome so many participants to the Bloomington area.

 

In all, more than 1,500 individuals will fill the area’s hotel rooms during the event, not including family members and spectators. Athletes, coaches, volunteers and officials are encouraged to spend some time exploring the city of Bloomington and the beautiful IU campus while they’re in town. The Speedo Championship Series is expected to bring an estimated economic impact of more than $600,000 to the Bloomington area.

 

Spectators are welcome to attend when this exciting four-day meet gets underway Wednesday at 9 am with the Women’s 800 meter freestyle. The format for the event will be preliminary rounds beginning at 9 am, with finals beginning at 5:30 pm Wednesday through Saturday and 4:30 pm on Sunday. 

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