Hangzhou was voted ahead of bids from Lima, Peru and the United Arab Emirates by the International Swimming Federation (FINA) Bureau in a meeting ahead of the 2014 World Short-Course Swimming Championships which are due to begin in Doha tomorrow.

"The city of Hangzhou will offer optimal conditions for the organisation of these Championships," said FINA President Dr Julio C Maglione.

"There is a very strong commitment from the local authorities to have this event in this dynamic metropolis.

"China is an important partner of FINA and we are always happy to return to this beautiful country."

It will be the second time inside the last decade that one of FINA's flagship swimming World Championships have been held in China after Shanghai hosted the World Championships in long-course in 2011.

2018 will be the second time inside a decade that a Swimming World Championships have been held in China after Shanghai hosted the long-course World Championships in 2011 ©Getty Images



Hangzhou is the capital and largest city of Zhejiang Province in Eastern China and best known internationally for its West Lake, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

"This is a dream that come true," said 2004 Olympic gold medallist Xuejuan Luo, an ambassador for the bid.

"My hometown is Hangzhou and I always hoped that one day we could be able to organise a World Championships in the most beautiful city in China."

"The Mayor of Hangzhou was also here to support our bid, and we can assure that the best swimmers in the world will be able to complete in superb venues."

The event will also include the FINA World Aquatics Convention, which includes a conference, exhibition, official networking events and social activities.

Hangzhou will follow Qatar and Windsor, Canada, in 2016, as hosts of the World Short-Course Swimming World Championships.

Qatar's hosting of this year's World Championships hit a stumbling block last month when Egypt announced its decision to withdraw from the competition in a move widely interpreted as a political boycott due to Qatar's continued support of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. 

More than 900 athletes are expected to attend the five-day event, nonetheless, a record for the World Short-Course Swimming Championships.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
November 2014: Egypt withdraws from 2014 World Short Course Championships in Qatar
July 2014: FINA to introduce Youth Training Programme during 2014 Swimming World Short Course Championships in Doha
May 2014: Doha 2014 FINA World Aquatics Convention details released
April 2014: Qatar gets ready for festival of swimming
April 2012: Doha awarded 2014 World Short Course Swimming Championships