American Olympic Synchronised Swimming Squad to be based at the National Aquatic Centre before 2012 London Olympics

US Synchronized Swimming has chosen the National Aquatic Centre, Abbotstown as its pre-Olympic Training Base for the London Olympics in 2012. The US squad of over 20 swimmers and team officials will be based in Dublin for 3 separate periods – a pre-Olympic qualifying tournament (2 weeks in April 2012); a pre-Olympic training base camp (2 weeks in July 2012) and as its training base throughout the Olympics (August 2012). The squad will be joined in Ireland by family members and friends at various stages during their stays.

Ms Sandra Mahoney, National Team Director, US Synchronized Swimming, said that Abbotstown had been chosen following a process where they had considered many options. “We have checked out all the alternative options prior to London and have concluded that the best place for us is the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin. The facility is world-class and the country is most welcoming.” Ms Gigi Grizanti, National Team Coordinator, looks forward to promoting both the National Aquatic Centre and the sport of Synchronized Swimming through appearances and demonstrations by the Olympic Squad which will be open to the public. She went on to say – “We hope to leave a footprint behind for the development of the sport in Dublin and in Ireland.”

Ms Mary Hanafin T.D., Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport welcomed the development and congratulated the National Sports Campus Development Authority under whose aegis the Centre is managed;

“Ireland has a great deal to offer Olympic athletes and their training personnel, and the facilities available at the National Aquatic Centre are world class. I am delighted that the US Synchronized Swimmers have chosen Abbotstown and Ireland as their base for training in the lead up and during the London Olympics in August 2012. This is a first for Ireland and a great international endorsement of the facilities that we have to offer. I know that there will be a warm welcome for the team while training here and for their families who will join them to offer support. Given Ireland’s proximity to London, and the many accessible routes to and from the UK, we can benefit from a sporting, tourism and on a broader economic knock-on effect with the large number of people planning to travel to the Games from all over the world.”

Mr Patrick Hickey, President of the Olympic Council of Ireland, praised the staff at the National Aquatic Centre saying that the news was great for Ireland “and a wonderful boost for the association between Ireland and the London Olympics. Congratulations to all concerned.”

Earlier this year, the USA Junior All-Star Swimming team was based at the National Aquatic Centre. International squads from Egypt, South Africa and a number of other countries subsequently participated in the National Open Swimming Championship.

Swim Ireland also has a permanent High Performance Centre based at the National Aquatic Centre. Gráinne Murphy, Ireland’s silver medallist at the recent European Swimming Championships, competed in the Abbotstown facility before proceeding to the European Championship.

It is expected that other teams and individuals will now follow the example of US Synchronized Swimming and reserve pool time at the National Aquatic Centre in preparation for the London Olympics.