The WFCU Centre in Windsor, where the World Swimming Championships were held last December, resulting in an enormous boost for the local economy ©FINA

A new study conducted by the Canadian Sports Tourism Alliance has revealed that the International Swimming Federation (FINA) World Swimming Championships (25m) and the World Aquatics Convention held in Windsor last year generated over CAD$32 million (£19 million/$25 million/€21.5 million) in economic activity for the city.

The six-day event at the WFCU Centre, called after the Windsor Family Credit Union, had a surplus of CAD$146,311 (£87,000/$115,000/€98,500).

A report from deputy treasurer Tony Ardovini recommends this should be used "to fund aquatics equipment to help grow the sport of competitive swimming in the city".

A further funding surplus of CAD$116,191 (£69,500/$91,000/€78,000), related to Windsor's CAD$3 million (£1.8 million/$2.4 million/€2 million) investment in the event, should be put into the city's capital budget for 2018, according to Ardovini.

The spending involved resulted in CAD$13 million (£7.8 million/$10.2 million/€8.8 million) worth of wages and salaries, involving 191 jobs, of which 125 were in Windsor.

Mayor Drew Dilkens was delighted with the study,.

"I think the results were very, very positive and I think the city should be looking at more opportunities when it makes sense," he said.

South Africa's Chad Le Clos was the best male athlete of the Championships ©Getty Images
South Africa's Chad Le Clos was the best male athlete of the Championships ©Getty Images

FINA President Dr Julio Maglione said that while Windsor, whose population is just over 217,000, was the smallest ever to host the World Swimming Championships, it had a "tremendous and positive impact" on the local economy and on Ontario generally.

A total of 864 swimmers from 153 National Federations took part in the event, watched, it is claimed. by over 460 million television viewers.

It was the first time the Championships were held in Canada.

Hungary’s Katinka Hosszú was named the best female athlete after claiming seven gold medals there.

South Africa’s Chad le Clos was named the best male athlete of the Championships having claimed world titles in the 50 metres, 100m and 200m butterfly races and a silver in the 200m freestyle.

He also established the only individual world record in Windsor, 48.08sec in the 100m butterfly.

The United States won the trophy for the best team of the Championships, ranking first in the medal table with eight golds, 15 silvers and seven bronzes.

Hungary were second in the medal table with seven golds, two silvers and two bronzes, while Russia were third with six golds, five silvers and three bronzes.