GWANGJU ― Gwangju took one step closer to its dream of hosting the 2019 World Aquatics Championships Tuesday as it completed a crucial test by an evaluation team from the International Swimming Federation (FINA).
The team, who arrived here on Monday, wrapped up the inspection Tuesday with a tour of two sites ― an aquatic venue to be constructed at Nambu University, and Naju Lake where open-water and high-diving events will take place.
Gwangju plans to cluster a water polo pool, a synchronized swimming pool and press and broadcasting centers around the swimming pool on the school campus. The Nambu University swimming pool will be used first for the 2015 Gwangju Summer Universiade and then for the 2019 World Championships if the FINA awards the event to the city. Bid officials say that they are using the Universiade venue for the World Championships to ensure convenience and operational efficiency.
Its 3,000-seat capacity will be expanded to 15,000 seats, using temporary movable seats.
The visitors planted commemorative trees in the Swimming Park on the school campus. The park will be developed as the center of an aquatic community in the city.
They then moved to Naju Lake to check the venue for open-water swimming and high diving.
After winding up the on-site inspection, the head of the FINA team praised Gwangju’s bid preparations.
Cornel Marculescu (second from right), executive director of the FINA Bureau and head of the bid evaluation team, speaks at a news conference in Gwangju on Tuesday, as Gwangju Mayor Kang Un-tae (right) and Kim Yoon-suk (third from right), secretary-general of Gwangju 2019 Bid Committee, listen. (Chung Hee-cho/The Korea Herald)
“I am very satisfied with the presentation of the Gwangju bid. Regarding facilities, they have excellent location, very good position and legacy,” Cornel Marculescu, executive director of the FINA Bureau, said in the news conference.
“Open-water swimmers and high divers are going to be very happy to compete in such a beautiful natural setting.”
Marculescu added that he was impressed by Gwangju citizens’ enthusiasm to host the World Championships. About 500 local residents turned up to greet the visitors at Gwangju Airport Monday and they later received warm hospitality at every site they visited for inspection.
He said that there are four candidate cities in the race ― Gwangju in South Korea, Budapest in Hungary, Baku in Azerbaijan and Abu Dhabi or Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
“As I know, they are going to make presentations on July 1, which is the deadline for the FINA to receive host city agreements,” he said.
The FINA will then elect the host city for the 2019 World Championships through a majority vote by its 22 bureau members in Barcelona, Spain, on July 19.
“Most important is that candidates fulfill the requirements of the FINA,” he said.
He emphasized the role of swimming in showcasing a host city to the world.
“Swimming is probably one of the most practiced sports around the world. And for that reason, Mayor Kang is going to join with the FINA to open Gwangju to the world through the sport.”
The FINA official underscored the financial and social impact of the World Championships, whose host city will jointly organize the Masters Championships following the World Championships.
Gwangju expects the World Championships to bring economic effects of generating 650 billion won ($590 million) in added value and employing 18,000 people.
If the FINA awards the 2019 World Championship to Gwangju, it will be a crucial springboard for the city to become one of the world’s premier aquatics destinations.
City officials said that Gwangju will push ahead with a plan to construct a swimming center to keep on bidding for future international aquatics events.
The center will also provide useful training resources for local swimmers and superb facilities for coaches and aspiring referees and judges.
“We have just turned a major corner. I believe the FINA will score us properly,” an official said.
After the venue inspection and news conference, they toured Samsung Electronics and Kia Motors factories and then departed for Seoul to attend a reception dinner hosted by former Prime Minister Lee Hong-koo, who is an honorary chairman of the Gwangju bid committee for the 2019 FINA World Championships.
The visitors from the FINA will meet with Prime Minister Chung Hong-won Wednesday morning before leaving the country.
By Chun Sung-woo (
swchun@heraldcorp.com)