Long-term gain from short-course comp

THE 2022 Victorian Country Short-Course Swimming Championships will be held at the Ballarat Aquatic & Lifestyle Centre throughout the last weekend of July.

Hosted by the Midlands District Amateur Swimming Association, the two-day competition will see young athletes over the age of eight from across regional Victoria competing over a 25-metre distance.

More than 800 swimmers, mostly between 10 and 16 years old, are expected to take part.

Acting president of the Midlands District Amateur Swimming Association Tanya Sutherland said the meet is set to be a family and community-centric event, full of high-quality performances.

“There are very few spaces where you have such a broad range of athletes, from children starting out, to children already swimming at a national level alongside the likes of Cody Simpson and so on,” she said.

“We feel incredibly lucky to run these events because our community has so much to offer. We’re excited to bring people together to celebrate swimming, and bring business to Ballarat.”

MDASA member and the Championships’ project sponsorship coordinator Marissa Cofield said the City of Ballarat are hosting partners of the event, supporting the Association’s goal to boost tourism and the local economy.

“This event attracts significant state-wide participation, which not only promotes the sport of swimming, but also promotes tourism, visitation and Ballarat’s place as a major regional sporting centre in Victoria,” Ms Cofield said.

“This will equate to more than 1600 visitors of which 80 per cent will stay in Ballarat for two nights. These visitors will inevitably be putting money into our local economy by way of accommodation, dining, shopping, tourist attractions, and additional entertainment.

“It also puts the spotlight on Ballarat’s showpiece swimming and sporting facility, that in part, was designed to cater for events of this nature.”

Ms Cofield said the MDASA is seeking sponsors for the Championships, and there will be plenty of opportunities for these supporters to advertise their business.

“We’re aiming to create a circular environment, where if you support us, we support you.

“There are lane sponsors needed for the entire weekend, we have silver sponsorship packages available for advertising around the swimming pool, all our supporters will get significant space in the program, and we will use our strong social media presence to promote sponsors in the lead-up,” Ms Cofield said.

“It’s a great opportunity for venues, especially those in the Lake Wendouree precinct, to get their names out there to families who are visiting. Many will return to Ballarat for other smaller competitions in the future.”

Sponsors’ funds will assist the MDASA to hire stadium seats and equipment, publish their program, and ensure officials are well catered for.

The Victorian Country Short-Course Swimming Championships will run on Saturday, 30 and Sunday, 31 July, ahead of the Victorian State Championships in August. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, contact [email protected].