Singapore to host world's best swimmers for FINA 5th World Junior Championships

SINGAPORE - The OCBC Aquatic Centre will be in the thick of swimming competition come August 25- 30 for the FINA 5th World Junior Championships, barely a few months after the 28th SEA Games.

The world's best junior swimmers - aged 14 to 18 - will number over 1,000, from more than 100 countries.

Singapore's swimming poster boy - Joseph Schooling - was unveiled as the local ambassador for the Championships during the announcement today (June 17) at Kallang Mall.

"I was fortunate enough to swim in the Junior Championships in Peru in 2011, and that memory will stay with me for the rest of my life. The crowd in Singapore has been truly amazing for us, and I'm hoping that the fans at the OCBC Aquatic Centre create an atmosphere that will provide an outstanding experience for the swimmers," Joseph said.

The FINA World Junior Championships first took place in 2006 and has been a platform for young swimmers to develop their skills through elite level competition.

"Many of these swimmers are competing at a global level for the very first time, and this experience will truly benefit them, hopefully providing them with lifelong memories, and friendships beyond boundaries," said Cornel Marculescu, Executive Director, FINA.

"The championship's history has seen approximately 500 swimmers participate in each edition, but this year, I'm delighted to see that number double. This is a testament to the massive appeal swimming in Singapore has, and shows that we made the right decision to award the 5th FINA World Junior Championships to Singapore."

Mr Toh Boon Yi, Chief, Strategic Development & Marketing Group, SportSG added, "The FINA World Junior Championships is coming to our shores at a really great time. Singapore has just recorded the best medal haul for swimming at the 28th SEA Games with 23 Gold medals, and interest in swimming is at an all-time high. With fans across Singapore getting behind the swimmers, we are now ready and excited to host the best young swimmers in the world."

Tickets for the FINA World Junior Swimming Championships are available from http://www.sportshub.com.sg/sportshubtix/Pages/Home.aspx.

grongloh@sph.com.sg