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 The time has come! Ticket sales have started on March 1st. As of now you are able to buy tickets for the World Championships Swimming on the official website. After the Paralympics the World Championships are one of the largest sports events for people with a disability in the world and will be held from 15th till 21st August in the Pieter van den Hoogenband Swimming Stadium and the E3 Strand in Eersel. Furthermore we announced the competition schedule. It promises to be a great competition, with top swimmers from all over the world competing for world titles.
You'll be there, won't you?
Henny Smorenburg
Tournament director 2010 IPC World Championships Swimming
Competition schedule 2010 IPC Swimming World Championships announced
Ticket sales started March 1st
In 16 different distances and events, swum in 14 classes, athletes from all over the world will compete for titles and medals in the Pieter van den Hoogenband Swimming Stadium in Eindhoven between August 15 and 21. The organisation of the World Championships announced this Wednesday on their website.
Tournament director Henny Smorenburg: “We have a varied programme, which guarantees a whole week of top class sports in Eindhoven and Eersel (the open water event on August 21st). It gives everyone the opportunity to visit the event, in part due to the advantageous start times of the races. The heats will start at 9 in the morning and finish at about 11.30, while the finals will run from 17.00 until approximately 20.30. Following the change in the rules of the International Paralympic Committee, the S14 category (people with an intellectual disability) will also participate.”
“There's already a lot of interest in tickets,” says Smorenburg. “People regularly asked about possibilities. I am therefore happy to announce that since last Monday ticket sales through the website have started.”
Entry tickets cost € 6,- (day ticket for heats and finals) and a passe-partout can be had for € 30,- (day ticket for heats and finals during 7 days, including the open water event in Eersel). There will be no separate tickets for heats and finals. The organisation recommends that spectators visit the Tongelreep, the other accommodations within Genneper Parken or the city of Eindhoven between heats and finals.
Eindhoven Open has unfortunately been cancelled
The Eindhoven Open (from 26th till 27th March) has been cancelled. The Foundation WC Swimming says that too few countries had signed up to be able to organise a serious test event for the World Championships.
First Entry closed: Massive interest from all over the world
Before each swimming championships countries are asked to estimate how many athletes and staff they will bring. The first entry is closed by now and shows that the World Championships in Eindhoven are a very desirable tournament. 55 Countries, 838 athletes and 397 staff have already signed up to participate this summer. From experience we know this number will decrease somewhat. Some athletes have not yet made the qualifying times or will still decide to skip this tournament. The second entry, closing by the end of April, will provide more certainty. The Foundation WC Swimming are at any rate very pleased with this result. Henny Smorenburg: “Even if these numbers will still go down, these World Championships are likely to break all records. Never before did so many athletes participate in World Championships swimming for people with a disability. In short: a wonderful intermediate result.”
Volunteer Speaks
In every newsletter we'd like to introduce one of the many volunteers to you. Today: Maureen Rutten
 Who are you?
Maureen Rutten (21). After highschool I studied Human Resources from September 1, 2005 until June 30, 2009 and graduated with a good result. During my studies I did a few internships in human resources and employment law. Since January 15, 2009 I have been working at UWV in the employment law service department, where I also did an internship.
Why did you become a volunteer at the 2010 IPC World Championships Swimming?
Swimming has always played a very important role in my life. For years I trained four to five times a week. I'm still swimming once a week. They asked several human resources employees. Given that I was educated in that field I thought this a great chance to combine my two greatest interests.
What do you think you'd like best about this volunteer job?
Thinking about the recruitment and selection of volunteers. But above all the moment I'll see swimmers start. I'll watch that with great admiration. I know how much time and energy it takes to achieve something. In order to participate in world championships athletes will certainly have given even more.
Have you been a volunteer at a large sports event before?
No, but I'm still young and I hope many more events will follow. I do have some experience with large tournaments in which I participated myself. I have experienced several provincial and Dutch championships and international competitions. My best result was becoming 3rd of the Netherlands in my age group in the 200 breaststroke. I also became provincial champion several times. Without the efforts of my parents, coaches, officials and everyone who contributed to those competitions, I never would have had such great memories. Now I'd like to make a contribution of my own for swimmers, hoping that they will never forget this tournament.
What are your expectations?
Composing a team of volunteers who complement each other, making the tournament a great success. I'm convinced that with the efforts of every volunteer, the organisation and the swimmers, this is going to be a competition that will remain in my memory and that of everyone who contributed for a long time.
Which last thing would you like to say?
I'd like to wish all volunteers much luck and fun with their important contribution to this event. Apart from that I'd like to tell all the top athletes for whom this tournament is being organised that I admire them very much and that of course I'm wishing them the best of luck!
2010 IPC Swimming World Championships Eindhoven
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