Around 650 swimmers from 50 countries are expected to compete.

Simmonds, the four-time Paralympic champion, who has also won 13 titles at various Championships, joined Glasgow-born European champion Andrew Mullen for the launch, where they stressed the importance of "home advantage" for British swimmers.

"I'm so excited about the home World Championships," said Simmonds, who shot to fame at the age of 13 at Beijing 2008.

"Home support was so important during the London 2012 Paralympics and I really love it when the crowd cheer us on.

"I hope that we get big audiences so we can show them how brilliant our sport is.

"Glasgow will be my fourth World Championships and I think it will be really special, I love competing at the top level.

"Racing fast is the best part of my sport but this will be made even better with a great crowd getting behind the team.

"The world's best will be coming to Glasgow for this competition and it would be great if we could make the first British-held World Championships the best one yet."

Competition will take place at the revamped Tollcross International Swimming Centre
©Getty Images



Tickets are being sold via the website Ticketmaster, costing just £10 or £15 ($16 or $21/€12 or €17) for adults, while under 16's go free. 

They are available here.

Mullen, who excelled in the S5 category at the European Championships in Eindhoven, also expressed his excitement at competing in front of a home crowd, in the same pool in which swimming action took place at the Commonwealth Games in the Scottish city earlier this year.

"I'm really looking forward to competing in front of a home crowd here at Tollcross," he said.

"I was born here so I know how passionate the Glasgow residents are about sport.

"I saw how great the support was for swimming during the Commonwealth Games and I really hope that we get the same support in July.

"I was really proud of my city this summer, the Games were great and I know that the World Championships will be just as exciting."

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