The official website for next year's International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Swimming European Open Championships in Funchal, Portugal, has been launched.

The website, www.Funchal2016.com, contains information about the competition, its history, and Funchal itself.

The launch follows the successful 2015 IPC Swimming World Championships in Glasgow, where 38 world records were broken over seven days of action.

The event in Funchal, due to take place between April 30 and May 7, is expected to be equally as competitive with 152 gold medals on offer during one of the final events before the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. 

"The build-up for Funchal 2016 starts here, and the website will provide fans with everything they need to follow their favourite swimmers over the next 10 months," said Craig Spence, the IPC's director of media and communications. 

"The Euros always provide fantastic competition and we expect this edition to live up to and exceed all expectations in terms of athlete performances, especially as it will be an Open.

"Only after it has finished will we be sure who is in form heading into Rio 2016, and we have already been approached by a number of countries from outside Europe who wish to compete."

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A website for the European Open Championships in Funchal has been launched by IPC Swimming ©IPC

Funchal 2016 is expected to draw some of the world's most high-profile swimmers to the Complexo Olimpico de Piscinas da Penteada,  including Belarusian Ihar Boki, winners six gold medals at Glasgow, where he also set five world records.

Britain's Tully Kearney also left her home World Championships last week as the most decorated European female swimmer with four golds, a silver and a bronze medal.

Following an incredible performance at Glasgow 2015 topping the medals table with 71 podiums including  32 golds, 19 silver and 20 bronze, Russia are sure to send another strong team to Funchal.

The Ukrainian team will be looking to repeat their performance from the 2014 IPC Swimming European Championships in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, where they finished as the number one country with 37 golds, 29 silver and 28 bronze medals.

Around 450 swimmers from 50 countries are expected to make the journey to the island of Madeira, off the coast of Portugal, for Funchal 2016.



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