Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr<\/p>\n
PERTH – The BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series is set to heat up this summer with the inclusion of swimming heavyweights to the international line up.<\/p>\n
In an event first, Australia along with China and Japan will take on their most rivalled competitors as Team USA join the competition in Perth this January.<\/p>\n
Swimmers from each country will dive into action at HBF Stadium on Friday 30th January and Saturday 31st January as they compete for their country\u2019s share in over $400,000 of prize money. They will also be joined by the Australian, Chinese and USA Water Polo teams competing for a further $84,000 in prize money making the BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series the most unique swimming and water polo event on the global stage, hosted exclusively in Perth, Western Australia.<\/p>\n
Swimming Australia Chief Executive Officer Mark Anderson says the inclusion of the USA shows the extensive growth of this unique event over the last three years placing Western Australia on the international stage in aquatic sport.<\/p>\n
\u201cTeam USA is an incredible addition to year three of the BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series. It demonstrates the great appeal of this event to the best swimming nations and provides further expansion of the meet which will ensure that this event will become entrenched in the international swimming calendar,\u201d said Mr Anderson.<\/p>\n
This addition shows the increased interest that the BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series has internationally for competing nations and the resulting broadcast, placing Western Australia on the world stage in aquatic sport,\u201d Mr Anderson added.<\/p>\n
Acting Tourism Minister John Day said this year\u2019s event was shaping up to be the best in its three year history.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series is a unique home-grown event which has become bigger and better each year,\u201d Mr Day said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is great news that the USA swimming and men\u2019s water polo teams will be taking part. It is a significant statement of the importance of the event that the US team has chosen to compete in Western Australia.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvents such as the BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series play an important role in the State Government\u2019s strategy to grow the value of tourism to the economy to $12 billion by 2020.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey help attract visitors, add vibrancy and global importance to the State, and generate both international and national media exposure for WA,\u201d added Mr Day.<\/p>\n
BHP Billiton Vice President Corporate Affairs, Julius Matthys, said BHP Billiton was proud to be supporting the event for the third year in a row.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is fantastic to see this event, which brings the excitement of international swimming and water polo to Western Australia, gain popularity and continue to attract international talent,\u201d he said.
\n\u201cThrough our investment in the BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series we are placing Western Australia on the world-stage, showcasing this nation\u2019s incredible talent.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are proud to help bring such an iconic event here to Western Australia and look forward to seeing four fantastic teams in Australia, China, Japan and the USA compete this summer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Swimming Australia Director of High Performance Michael Scott added that it was a great outcome for the growth of the sport and a chance for the Australian Swim Team to test themselves without travelling too far.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe addition of the USA to this meet is a great outcome for the sport of swimming and will no doubt have a positive flow on effect for the growth of the sport in Australia. The BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series will bring high quality international swimming to Australia, giving the swimmers the chance to test themselves without travelling too far and the public a chance to support the team against some of the best swimmers in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
Members of the Australian Swim Team Emma McKeon, Tommy Fraser-Holmes and Emily Seebohm joined Australian Water Polo player Edward Slade this afternoon for the official launch of the 2015 BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series international pool event in Brookfield Place.<\/p>\n
Fraser-Holmes said he is excited to be back in Perth and looking forward to the Super Serious Fun that the event encapsulates early next year.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is great to be here today announcing the competing teams and launching ticket sales for the BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series. This is the only annual swim meet where the Australian Swim Team compete on home soil, which is really important for our sport and it\u2019s growth from grass roots to the international stage,\u201d said Fraser-Holmes.<\/p>\n
Water Polo Western Australia CEO Dale Ballantyne was equally as excited at the opportunity this event brings to WA and the exposure of water polo on the world stage.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the only event in Australia that brings the Australian men and women\u2019s water polo teams together on the world stage plus the top swimming nations in the world. It is a great opportunity for Water Polo to increase its membership across the country and a chance for our national teams to go up against some of their biggest rivalries, it will be an exciting few days of competition,\u201d said Mr Ballantyne.<\/p>\n