Ambassador Named for Eindhoven Swimming Championships

Swimming Superstar and Olympic champion Pieter van den Hoogenband has been officially named an ambassador to the 2010 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Swimming World Championships in Eindoven, the Netherlands.

With support announced by the Foundation World Championships Swimming, Van den Hoogenband will be representing the event next year in Eindhoven and bringing in athletes and Paralympic fans from around the world. In fact, the athlete recorded a video message that was played during the IPC General Assembly in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in which he invited all of the National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) to participate in the competition.

The Tournament Director of the 2010 IPC Swimming World Championships Henny Smorenburg said that Pieter van den Hoogenband is an idol inside and outside the swimming community. He added that it will be a great advantage for the World Championships to have such a name behind it.

Taking place from 15-21 August 2010, the 2009 IPC Swimming World Championships will take place in the Pieter van den Hoogenband Swimming Stadium in Eindhoven and the ‘E3 Beach’ in Eersel.

A foundation was set up for the 2010 IPC Swimming World Championships in September 2008, the ‘Foundation WC Swimming 2010.’ This temporary project organization is under the direction of event director Henny Smorenburg, along with project leaders with experience in the organization of large elite level sporting events and with sports for persons with a disability. Those responsible for the WC organization include the Foundation WC Swimming 2010, Disabled Sports The Netherlands, the city of Eindhoven, and the Dutch Swimming Federation (KNZB). Currently, the WC Swimming Foundation office is located in the Pieter van den Hoogenband Swimming Stadium.

The last World Championships took place in 2006 in Durban, South Africa. The event occurs every four years.