Website launched for Funchal 2016

“The build-up for Funchal 2016 starts here, and the website will provide fans with everything they need to follow their favourite swimmers over the next 10 months."

IPC Swimming has launched the official website for the 2016 European Open Championships in Funchal, Portugal, at Funchal2016.com.

Containing information about the competition, its history, and Funchal itself, the website is the place to find all the latest updates, spectator and volunteer information, athlete interviews and biographies for the competition which runs from 30 April - 7 May.

The launch follows the hugely successful 2015 IPC Swimming World Championships in Glasgow, Great Britain, where 38 world records were broken over seven days of action.

Funchal 2016 is expected to be equally as competitive with 152 gold medals on offer during one of the final stops before the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Craig Spence, IPC Director of Media and Communications, said: “The build-up for Funchal 2016 starts here, and the website will provide fans with everything they need to follow their favourite swimmers over the next 10 months.

“The Euros always provide fantastic competition and we expect this edition to live up to and exceed all expectations in terms of athlete performances, especially as it will be an Open.

“Only after it has finished will we be sure who is in form heading into Rio 2016, and we have already been approached by a number of countries from outside Europe who wish to compete.”

Funchal 2016 is expected to draw some of the world’s most high-profile swimmers to the Complexo Olimpico de Piscinas da Penteada including Belarusian Ihar Boki, who stormed to six gold medals and five world records at the Glasgow 2015 Worlds.

Great Britain’s Tully Kearney also left her home World Championships last week as the most decorated European female swimmer with four golds, a silver and a bronze medal.

Following an incredible performance at Glasgow 2015 topping the medals table with 71 podiums including 32 golds, 19 silver and 20 bronze, Russia are sure to send another strong team to Funchal.

The Ukrainian team will be looking to repeat their performance from the 2014 IPC Swimming European Championships in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, where they finished as the No.1 country with 37 golds, 29 silver and 28 bronze medals.

Around 450 swimmers from 50 countries are expected to make the journey to the island of Madeira, off the coast of Portugal, for Funchal 2016.