EXCLUSIVE!! “Duel in the Pool” May Be Postponed or Canceled Says Aussi Chief

By Stephen J. Thomas

SYDNEY, March 18. THE much anticipated "Duel in the Pool" dual meet, set to be held in Indianapolis on April 6, may be postponed or canceled if war with Iraq breaks out, according to Australian Swimming's high performance director, Greg Hodge.

SwimInfo spoke with Hodge this morning and he confirmed that Australian Swimming has scheduled a meeting with the Australian Olympic Committee security advisers on Thursday to discuss the implications that war in the Middle East will have on travel to the United States.

Hodge said Australian officials have already had discussions with U.S.A. Swimming about this eventuality and "we're also taking advice from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade."

The Australian team is to be selected after the Australian Championship to be held March 22-29, with the team scheduled to fly to Indianapolis for the April 6 meet.

The meet involving the two top swimming nations in the world has been sold out for months and was due to be televised in both countries.

"We'll be monotoring the situation very carefully and receiving the best posible advice from both sides of the Pacific to make sure that everything is secure before we take our team offshore," Hodge said.

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