At Université Laval’s PEPS aquatic centre October 2 to 5, 2014
Québec City, Thursday, March 27, 2014 – The FINA Synchronized Swimming World Cup, presented every four years, will be held in Québec City from October 2 to 5, 2014, at the brand new PEPS aquatic centre at Université Laval. The very first edition of the event was held in Tokyo, Japan, in 1979, and Québec City will host the 13th edition. The last edition was held in Changshu, China, in 2010, with Canada taking home one silver and three bronze medals. Organized by Synchro Canada and its producer, Gestev, in conjunction with Ville de Québec and Université Laval, the official announcement that the international event would be coming to the Québec City area was made this afternoon at the new PEPS pool.
“We look forward to coming to Quebec City for the 2014 FINA Synchronised Swimming World CUP as we are sure that it will be an exciting competition. Synchro is very popular in Canada and this major event will be an additional inspiration for the youth in your country. Great stars of this spectacular discipline will be in Quebec City and will enchant spectators and TV viewers with their superb routines. Synchro Canada and Quebec City will be memorable hosts and they deserve FINA’s gratitude for this organisation”, mention the FINA President Dr. Julio C. Maglione.
A first in Canada
Recognized as the sport’s fourth biggest international competition after the Olympics Games, the FINA World Aquatic Championships, and the Pan American Games, the FINA Synchronized Swimming World Cup is coming to Canada for the very first time. The last time a competition of this calibre was held in North America was in 1995, when the American city of Atlanta hosted the same event. “We feel lucky to have been chosen to host this event which is a first in Canada”, said Sylvain Légaré, member of the executive committee of Québec City in charge of sports, leisure and community life. “It confirms, once again, our excellent reputation on the international sports scene.”
During the four days of competition in Québec City, the world’s best swimmers will compete in four events: Duet, Team, Free Combination and Highlight Routine for the very first time in a World Cup. In all, some 250 athletes from over 20 countries are expected to compete with their teams, making for 450 participants, including trainers and support staff. “Synchro Canada is delighted to host the biggest synchronized swimming event in the country since the 2005 FINA World Aquatic Championships. What’s more, the event will be in Québec City, a city with a storied history in the sport. We are sure that the people of Québec City will come out in numbers to support Team Canada as the competition helps our athletes prepare for the 2016 Olympic Games in front of a home crowd”, says Mario Welsh, Synchro Canada president.
The new aquatic centre ready for the world
“The new PEPS aquatic centre now means Université Laval can host international competitions like the FINA Synchronized Swimming World Cup 2014. We are immensely proud to host such a prestigious sporting event”, says university rector Denis Brière. Although discussions are still ongoing, the event will be broadcast around the world, providing a global showcase for the new PEPS facilities and once again allowing Québec City to shine in front of millions of viewers.
The event program, visual identity, and official website will be unveiled in the months ahead.
About FINA
Founded in 1908, the Fédération Internationale de Natation is the world’s governing aquatic sports organization. The five FINA disciplines—Swimming, Open Water Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, and Synchronized Swimming—are included in the Olympic program, while High Diving debuted at the 2013 FINA World Championships. FINA boasts 204 affiliated national federations around the world. It is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland.
About Synchro Canada
Synchro Canada is the national organization governing synchronized swimming in Canada. It represents 10 provincial associations, a territorial association, as well as some 150 clubs and 12,000 members across Canada. A member of FINA, the world’s governing aquatic sports organization, Synchro Canada promotes the quest for excellence by developing the athletes, citizens, and ambassadors of the sport of synchronized swimming at every level.
About Gestev
Gestev is a firm that has specialized in organizing and coming up with event concepts that make their mark provincewide and worldwide since 1992, raising organization and production standards along the way. Snowboard Jamboree, Red Bull Crashed Ice, Vélirium, Sprint Québec, and the Transat Québec Saint-Malo are just a few of the ambitious projects put on by a company that also manages Baie de Beauport. Gestev is a certified responsible event manager (BNQ 9700-253).
– 30 –
For information:
Jackie Buckingham, Synchro Canada
Email: jackie@synchro.ca
Phone: 613-748-5674 ext. 222
Website: www.synchro.ca
Facebook: www.facebook.com/synchrocanada
Twitter: www.twitter.com/synchrocanada
Marie-Michelle Gagné
Media Relations Manager
GESTEV
Email: mmgagne@gestev.com
Phone: 418-561-6762