British Swimming has won the bid to host the LEN 2016 European Championships and the LEN European Masters Championships at the London Aquatics Centre.
The 2016 European Swimming Championships at the London Aquatics Centre will form part of UK Sport’s £27million National Lottery funded Gold Event Series which aims to bring 70 major championships to home soil to build a strong sporting legacy from London 2012.
The events which feature swimming, diving and synchronised swimming will be held at the venue within the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and will be the first major event to be held at the Olympic pool since the 2012 Games.
David Sparkes, CEO of British Swimming said: “We’re delighted to say that we have secured not only the LEN European Championships but also the LEN European Masters Championships in 2016 at the London Aquatics Centre.
“The competition is an important stepping stone to enable our elite athletes to compete at a high quality competition early in 2016 before they travel out to the Olympic Games.
“It will also allow every swimmer in Britain to enter the European Masters Championships and swim in the Olympic pool in London and experience the fantastic atmosphere of the venue.”
Liz Nicholl, Chief Executive of UK Sport, said: “The LEN European Championships is the first major event to be secured at the London Aquatics Centre and is another example of great legacy use of one of the iconic London 2012 sporting venues.
“I am delighted that through the National Lottery funded Gold Event Series we continue to attract world class sporting events to this country to engage passionate fans, give opportunities to thousands of experienced volunteers and to support the performance ambitions of our athletes.”
Minister for Sport Hugh Robertson said: “I am delighted that we’ve landed the 2016 European Championships.
“It’s the latest addition to a stellar line-up of world class sport events coming to Britain as part of the legacy from London 2012. I am sure the British public will be hugely supportive and pack the Aquatic Centre out on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.”
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, who is also chairman of the London Legacy Development Corporation, said: "This is simply fantastic news for London and a glowing testimony for Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park’s status as a world-beating destination for elite sport.
“The stunning Aquatics Centre, home to some of the most dramatic sporting moments during the Olympic and Paralympic Games, is a fitting setting for these flagship international championships.
“Together with the London Legacy Development Corporation, we’ll now be working hard with British Swimming to ensure this event is a roaring success.”
Mark Sesnan, Chief Executive of GLL the charitable Social Enterprise that operates the Aquatic Centre on behalf of the LLDC said: "We are very excited to be hosting the 2016 European Championships at the superb Aquatic Centre on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
“It is a fantastic example of the Olympic legacy and will once again bring the very best of international sport to London. It will also be a great boost for the sport and help encourage swimming participation from grass roots through to elite sport."
Iain Edmondson, Head of Major Events at London and Partners said: “The fantastic news is testament to years of hard work by many organisations responsible for ensuring a lasting legacy of the 2012 Games.
“London & Partners is proud to have been a key part of this success from the initial feasibility through to submitting the final bid.
The European Swimming Championships will be a major milestone for major events in the city for 2016 sitting between the 2015 Rugby World Cup and 2017 IAAF and IPC Athletics World Championships.”
Over 400 volunteers will be recruited to help deliver the Championships which will see over 1000 competitors at the European Championships and over 4000 Master’s competitors.