Splashing Success: European Swimming Championships
No fewer than 336 swimmers from 32 countries participated
and fought for medals and championship titles at the European
Swimming Championships held from 28 July to
5 August in the "Eriksdalsbadet" pool in Stockholm,
Sweden. The top two teams in the medal count were Great
Britain and Spain. World records were broken in several
events, including the men's 100m freestyle S1, men's 100m
freestyle S5, men's 50m butterfly S6 and women's 100 freestyle
S1.
The event was successfully conducted by the Stockholm
Sports Organization for the Disabled, in cooperation with
highly qualified officials from various swim clubs in
Stockholm. Participants as well as international officials
were satisfied with the arrangements, including the venue
and hotel accommodation.
In connection with the Championships, the European Paralympic
Committee (EPC) project "Doping Disables" was
present, as part of its campaign against doping. An exhibition
was held and campaign information in English, French and
German was distributed. Some doping tests were conducted
before the start of the competition, and during the competition,
the Swedish anti-doping agency followed up with some further
tests. No positive tests have been reported.
The EPC contributed within its development program to
European participation in the Classification and Technical
Assistant seminar that was held by the IPC Swimming Sports
Assembly Executive Committee (SAEC). The intention was
to encourage education of classifiers and technical assistants
(TAs), primarily in the East European countries, and also
to increase the number of qualified classifiers and TAs
in Europe as a whole. Of the eleven to twelve European
trainees, the EPC provided financial support for five
East Europeans and five West Europeans, with the emphasis
on the participants from East Europe.
IPC Swimming SAEC Chairman Anne Green and her associates
were greatly appreciated by the organizers for their professionalism
and assistance.
To the thrill of the athletes and team officials, the
closing buffet dinner party was held in the magnificent
Stockholm City Hall, at the same tables were the annual
Nobel Prize Gala dinners with the Swedish royalty are
held.
The results of the Championships are published on the
following website: http://www.ec-swimming2001.org/.
Hans Lindström
President, European Paralympic Committee
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