The Championships, which take place in a 25 metre pool, will be staged at the giant Jyske Bank Boxen in the city of Herning from December 12 until 15 and Lars Lundov, chief executive of Sport Event Denmark, said securing the event was a major coup for the country.

"In Denmark we have a clear and ambitious event strategy and huge experience in organising major international sporting events, including the prestigious International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session and Congress in 2009 and the very successful UCI World Road Cycling Championships 2011," said Lundov.

"We now look forward to contributing to the 2013 LEN European Short Course Swimming Championships."

The Jyske Bank Boxen, which is known in Denmark as "The Box", is one of the premier sporting venues in the country and hosted the 2010 European Women's Handball Championships.

It will also host 2014 European Men's Handball Championships but the 2013 LEN European Short Course Swimming Championships will be the first major aquatics competition at the venue, which was opened in October 2010 with a concert by Lady Gaga.

The Championships were first held in its present format at Rostock in Germany in 1991 and since 1998 has been an annual event.

This year's Championships is due to be held in Chartres, France, between November 22 and 25. 

The meet features 38 events, 19 for each sex.

Of each 19, 17 are individual and two are relays.

"Denmark loves swimming," said the director of the Danish Swimming Federation Pia Holmen.

"We have built a strong foundation, we have made sure that swimming on all levels in Denmark is now well organised and therefore we are ready and eager to take the next step forward which is hosting of the European Short Course Swimming Championships 2013."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]