Plenty of Opportunities to be Involved in FINA World Swimming Championships

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, May 10. SEE Water Catch Fire Patron Package Allows Swim Clubs and Organizations to Experience Championships as a Team

Special ticket packages have been developed for swim clubs, families and businesses to become involved as groups for the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m).

The See Water Catch Fire Patron Package, H2CEO Program and the use of a luxury suite at Conseco Fieldhouse give swimming fans the opportunity to see the superstars of the sport and experience swimming like never before. More information on all of these programs is available by contacting Indiana Sports Corporation at 1-800 HI-FIVES or by visiting www.worldswim2004.com

Taking place Oct. 7-11 in a short course (25 meters) format, the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) will feature the world's elite swimmers from more than 100 countries just six weeks after the Athens Olympic Games. Conseco Fieldhouse the home of the NBA's Indiana Pacers and one of the most acclaimed sporting venues in the world – will house a temporary 25-meter 300,000-gallon competition pool and a 175,000-gallon warm-up pool. It will be the first time a swimming event has taken place in an NBA arena.

Patron Package the Best Way for Groups to Experience the Event
The See Water Catch Fire Patron Package is the easiest way for swim clubs and businesses to enjoy the event as a group, and at the same time, gain recognition for the swim club or business. The package includes four tickets to every night’s finals session on the Krieg DeVault Club Level and 20 single-session tickets good for any morning session also on the Krieg DeVault Club Level.

Because of the height of the temporary swimming pools to be placed in the Fieldhouse, the seats on the Krieg DeVault Club Level are regarded as the best in the house for the event.

Other benefits include recognition in the arena via video scoreboard signage and in the souvenir program; free souvenir programs and heat sheets; a listing and link on the official event Web site www.worldswim2004.com; and autographed memorabilia. In addition, purchasers of the patron package will have their club or business entered into a drawing to supply the basket kids for a portion of the World Championships. The swim club or business may also designate two club members or employees to swim a lap in the competition pool either prior to or between one of the sessions of the World Championships.

Witness World-Class Swimming in a Luxury Suite
The use of luxury suites on the Krieg DeVault Club Level of the Fieldhouse is also available. Suite users will be right on top of the action because of the height of the pool deck and seating configuration in the Fieldhouse. Use of a luxury suite includes 20 all-session tickets and 4 all-session parking passes; passes to a special VIP experience that gives spectators the chance to be some of the first to witness the completed temporary competition pool; and the opportunity to select one person to swim a lap in the competition pool.

H2CEO Program a “Hot” Item
Offering businesses visibility, hospitality and employee recognition, the H2CEO program gives companies the chance to “immerse” themselves in the World Championships, including all-session tickets on the Krieg DeVault Club Level. Company benefits include public address announcements and in-house video board recognition, as well as the opportunity to offer additional tickets to employees at a discount. The Organizing Committee of the event will also recognize the CEO or president of the company in support of the World Swimming Championships (25m).

Some companies have already taken advantage of the H2CEO program. They include Browning Day Mullins Diedorf (Chief Operating Officer John Dierdorf), Cinergy (Cinergy Foundation President Joe Hale), Indianapolis Motor Speedway (President and CEO Tony George), Ice Miller (Managing Partner Phil Bayt) Irving Materials (President Pete Irving), Monarch Beverage (President Phil Terry), the National Collegiate Athletic Association (President Myles Brand), REI Investments (President Mike Wells), Roman Brand Group (President Dan Roman), The Sallie Mae Fund (Executive Vice President June McCormack) and Shiel Sexton (President/CEO Andy Shiel).

ASCA World Clinic to Bring World Championships to Swimming Coaches
Additionally, swimming coaches have a chance to attend the 2004 American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) World Clinic and the finals sessions of the 2004 FINA World Swimming Championships (25m). Three-day and five-day packages are available and can be ordered directly through ASCA at (800) 356-2722 or online at www.swimmingcoach.org

The Superstars of Swimming are Coming
The best and brightest stars in the world of swimming will compete at this event if they qualify through their respective national competitions. Headlining the list is 18-year-old American Michael Phelps, who set an unprecedented seven world records in just 41 days in 2003.

Phelps is the world record holder in the 200-meter butterfly, 200-meter individual medley and the 400-meter individual medley. At the FINA World Championships in Barcelona last July, he broke five individual world records – the first to ever accomplish this feat at a single international meet – and seven American records on his way to four gold medals and two silver medals.

Also committed to compete are 2000 Olympic gold medalist and short course world record holder in the 200-meter and 400-meter freestyle Lindsay Benko from Elkhart, Ind.; Josh Davis who won Olympic medals in 1996 and 2000; double gold medalist from the 2000 Olympics, Yana Klochkova of the Ukraine; Ed Moses, 2000 Olympic gold medalist and short course world record holder in the 200-meter breaststroke; and Jenny Thompson, winner of the most gold medals (eight) of any American female swimmer in Olympic history and the most overall medals (10) of any American woman. Martina Moravcova, who won Slovakia’s first Olympic medal at the 2000 Olympic Games, has also committed to participate.

Both Thompson and Benko have indicated that this will be the last event of their storied careers.

All-session tickets also are available for $300 at all Ticketmaster outlets, including the Conseco Fieldhouse box office, and Ticketmaster charge-by-phone numbers (317-239-5151 in central Indiana) or over the Internet at www.ticketmaster.com.

An all-session ticket includes tickets to all 10 sessions (five morning/five evening sessions) of the World Championships (25m). A limited number of seats are still available in the premier Splash Zone, which will be on the Krieg DeVault Club Level of the Fieldhouse alongside the competition pool.

Hotel Rooms Available Now
To reserve hotel rooms for the event, visit www.worldswim2004.com,call 1-800-556-INDY (4639) or e-mail housing@indianapolis.org Be sure to mention “swimming” when reserving hotel rooms to take advantage of special event rates.

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