The National Short Course Swim Championships can take place in Leisureland in Salthill this November, provided there is early planning and that stakeholders such as the Galway City Council have “the correct mindset”.
This is the view of Fianna Fail councillors Peter Keane and Michael J Crowe, who are also members of the Leisureland Board. Both men have been working over the last number of weeks to attract the swimming championships to Salthill.
The event is being organised in conjunction with Swim Ireland. It is understood the organisation is favouring Salthill over competing venues as Leisureland has a 25 metre pool, is close to hotels, and close to Salthill’s numerous restaurants, cafés, bars, and public amenities.
The event is expected to attract the best national and international swimmers who will be vying to record world class times in advance of the European and World Short Course Swim Championships in 2011 and the London Olympics in 2012.
“We are committed to bringing this event to Salthill in November which will attract 500 competitors along with an influx of an expected 3,000 people to Salthill,” said Cllr Crowe. “The event will give a much needed boast to the local economy.”
“The prospect of a return of international class swimmers to Salthill and competing in Leisureland is very exciting,” said Cllr Keane, who is calling on all other city councillors to “do all they can to attract as much investment to the locality as possible”.
A formal decision on the event is expected in the next fortnight.
