The city of Surrey, British Columbia has been named the host for the 2018 Espoir Synchronized Swimming Canadian Championships. More than 325 athletes and 120 coaches and officials will converge on the city for the five-day event. The athletes will range in age from 11 to 15 and will come from across Canada to take part in the event from May 29 to June 3, 2018 at the Surrey Sport and Leisure Centre pool.
“The City of Surrey is proud to host the 2018 Espoir Synchronized Swimming Championships,” said Mayor Linda Hepner. “Surrey is committed to providing top-tier sporting opportunities in our community and we look forward to welcoming the best young synchronized swimmers from across Canada to this competition.”
According to Councillor Bruce Hayne, Chair of the Surrey Parks Recreation and Sport Tourism Committee, “The 2018 Espoir Synchronized Swimming Championships are a great example of the caliber of sporting event Surrey is committed to hosting. We are looking forward to working with Synchro Canada and Synchro BC to host this competition in the City of Surrey.”
“We are excited to host this event. We want to extend a warm welcome to the synchronized swimmers, their families, the organizing committee, and the many spectators who will travel to this event in Surrey,” said Cathy James, Executive Director – Discover Surrey.
“Surrey has all the elements that we look for in hosting an event of this size. It has fabulous facilities, great accommodations, and our talented and enthusiastic team of Synchro BC volunteers who are so critical to helping us stage this important developmental competition,” said Jackie Buckingham, Chief Executive Officer, Synchro Canada. “We know that competitors from across the country will be excited to experience all that Surrey has to offer when they are here next year.”
The event will have a major economic impact on Surrey, estimated at over one million dollars. Synchro Canada and the clubs taking part in the competition will use 1200 hotel room nights, in addition to others booked by family, friends and spectators attending the event.
The Espoir Synchronized Swimming Canadian Championships are webcast in Canada and around the world through live streaming on digital platforms. The media exposure generated by hosting an event of this stature will provide Surrey with a strong international audience to continue its promotion as a leading sport destination.
This event has previously been held in Montreal 2010, Gatineau 2011, Etobicoke 2012, Ottawa 2013, Kamloops, 2014, Saint John 2015, Winnipeg 2016 and London 2017.
A preliminary Information package is available on the event page on Synchro Canada’s website.