By Duncan Mackay at the World Trade Center in Moscow

Barcelona 2013_mascotOctober 31 - Fears Barcelona would be unable to host next year's FINA World Aquatics Championships because of the current economic crisis in Spain have eased after the world governing body held meetings with the country's Sports Minister Miguel Cardenal.


FINA President Julio Maglione revealed here at the 2nd FINA World Aquatics Convention that they had received the necessary commitment from the Spanish Government that Barcelona would be able to host the event, which is due to be held between July 19 and August 4 and is expected to be attended by more than 2,000 athletes. 

"A few weeks ago we sat in a meeting with the Minister of Sport of Spain and he give all the guarantees for the success of the Championships," Maglione told insidethegames.

"At this moment we have all the guarantees that the organisation will be handled in the right way."

Barcelona had been chosen as the host city in March 2010 after Dubai, the city initially chosen, withdrew because of its own economic problems.

Barcelona had hosted a successful Championships in 2003, when Australia's Ian Thorpe won three gold medals.

Ian Thorpe_with_4x200m_gold_medal_Barcelona_2003Australia's Ian Thorpe, second right, won three gold medals at the 2003 FINA World Aquatics Championships in Barcelona, including the 4x200 metres relay

But recent problems in Spain, which is among the countries worst affected by Europe's economic crisis and is in a double-dip recession and has an unemployment rate of over 25 per cent, had led FINA to discreetly approach other cities to see whether they would be able to step in at short notice.

But, following the meeting with Cardenal, Maglione believes the Championships in Barcelona are not in doubt.

"The [organisers] have signed all the guarantees that give all the support that they promised in the contract that we agreed," he said.

"They are working very hard. 

"They are doing all that they promised.

"We are in the middle of one economic problem.

"We are in the middle of one political problem.

"But this is not our problem.

"Our problem is to do an excellent Championships with all the guarantees necessary for its success.

"We think we are in a very good way."

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