Streamlined News, July 8, 2011

PHOENIX, Arizona, July 8. ONE week from Saturday is the start of the world championships, and FINA is reporting a record number of countries in attendance. One hundred and eighty-one countries will send participants, up from 172 in 2009. The uptick in country participation hides the fact that fewer athletes are attending the world championships: 2,220 athletes compared to 2,438 in 2009. The fact that all swimmers must meet qualifying times for the first time may have something to do with the lower athlete count.

Many of the top countries not based in the same time zone as China are meeting this weekend and in the coming days to travel to countries in the Far East for training camps before swimming competition begins on July 24. The United States, for example, is traveling to Australia, while the British team will spend a few days in Japan. France is gathering in Singapore a few days before the meet, while Germany will reportedly train before the meet in another city in China.

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