FINA Names Bell Grand Prix in Toronto as Beijing Qualifier for International Swimmers

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OTTAWA, Ontario, Canada, October 26. FINA announced today that the Bell Grand Prix to be held Nov. 23-25 in Toronto has been approved as a Qualifying Competition for the 2008 Olympics Games for foreign athletes.

Non-Canadian swimmers will have the opportunity to compete at the Bell Grand Prix in Toronto and achieve the FINA "A" and "B" Swimming Qualifying Standard Times for Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

"Having the Bell Grand Prix sanctioned as an International Qualifier for the Olympics will bring more foreign athletes to the meet," said Pierre Lafontaine, CEO and National Coach for Swimming Canada. "Many of these athletes attending the meet will be ready to swim fast with hopes to meet the FINA standards and qualify for their country's Olympic Team. This will be a great catalyst for fast swimming pushing our Canadian athletes as they prepare for Canada's Olympic & Paralympic Swim Trials next April."

The Bell Grand Prix in Toronto will not act as a Canadian qualifying meet for the Olympics or Paralympics. The Canadian Swim Team will be exclusively selected at the 2008 Beijing Trial from April 1-6 in Montreal.

The Bell Grand Prix is designed to enhance the domestic competitive program and provide Canadian athletes with a b competitive environment in which they can excel in their performance. A series of three competitions will be held annually across Canada, in Vancouver (May), in Montreal (June) and in Toronto (November).

Special thanks to Swimming Canada for contributing to this report.

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