See Australia’s Swimming & Singing Greats in Action
Australian stars in and out of the pool will delight audiences around the world during the 12th FINA World Championships from 17 March – 1 April 2007.
Three of Australia’s best solo artists - Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Shannon Noll and Christine Anu will join 315 singers from the Australian Girls Choir and the National Boys Choir for the two-hour Opening Ceremony for the 16-day international swimming championships.
The FINA World Swimming Championships will be one of the largest sporting events in the world, when up to 2000 athletes from 175 countries will compete across five aquatic disciplines – Swimming, Open Water Swimming, Diving, Water Polo and Synchronised Swimming. It will be broadcast to an estimated audience of one billion people around the globe – a bigger television audience than the Commonwealth Games.
A spectacular temporary 50m competition pool will be installed at Rod Laver Arena for the Swimming and Synchronised Swimming Program. The Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre will host the Diving and Water Polo program and the free Open Water Swimming events will be held at St Kilda beach.
A web cam displaying the amazing ‘live’ pictures of the main competition pool installation at Rod Laver Arena can be viewed at www.melbourne2007.com.au (simply log on and click on the ‘Webcam’ promotional box which is located on the top right-hand side of the home page).
An exciting Cultural Festival will take place from 23 – 25 March 2007. The free FINA Festival will present a dazzling program of artists from around Australia and the globe with more than 60 international, interstate and local groups and artists performing at Federation Square and Birrarung Marr.
Tickets to the Opening Ceremony, which is on Friday 16 March, start at $28 for restricted viewing seats.
Tickets to the Opening Ceremony are on sale at Ticketek. Go to www.ticketek.com.au or phone 1300 136 494. Category B tickets cost $48 and Category A tickets are $68. Family tickets are on sale for $100 for a family of four.
For further information about the Championships visit www.melbourne2007.com.au
Media contact: Damian Glass, Manager – Communications, 2007 World Swimming Championships Corporation on Ph: (03) 8866 2012, mobile: 0409 320 863 or email damian.glass@melbourne2007.com.au