DATES AND SCHEDULE OF EVENTS ANNOUNCED FOR 2006 FINA WORLD MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS AT STANFO

March 24, 2005

Dates Approved by International Swimming Federation (FINA) at meeting in Shanghai

The schedule for the 2006 XI FINA World Masters Championships has been approved by FINA. The meet will begin Friday, August 4, 2006 with swimming and water polo and conclude Thursday, August 17, 2006 with synchronized swimming. Opening Ceremonies will take place on Thursday, August 3, 2006. More than 8,000 world-class adult athletes, ages 25 years and older, from over 60 countries will converge upon the Bay Area to compete in the world’s largest competitive aquatic meet.

The two-week long aquatic championships, at the Stanford University Avery Aquatic Center, include competition in swimming, diving, water polo and synchronized swimming. The open water competition will be held at Robert Crown Beach on the San Francisco Bay.

FINA, based in Lausanne, Switzerland, approved the suggested meet schedule at its last Bureau meeting in Shanghai, China, March 3-5, 2005.

Competitors may enter the meet on the www.2006finamasters.org web site, beginning January 1st, 2006 or by using the printed meet registration book, available September 1, 2005. Information about hotels, airlines and touring activities will be posted on the web site on August 1st, 2005.

"Stanford's Avery Aquatic Center is a tremendous venue for this event," says Michael Moore, chair of the local organizing committee. "For the first time in the history of the World Championships, the venue set-up will allow participants from each sport to see, cheer, and support athletes from the other disciplines. We are delighted FINA approved our suggested calendar." Moore also noted that Northern California is a great destination for aquatic competitors from all over the word. "We expect at least 8,000 competitors to come and enjoy the competition, the weather and the extraordinary venues."

The Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA), the international governing body for aquatic sports (swimming, open water swimming, diving, water polo and synchronized swimming), has awarded the XI FINA World Masters Championships to the United States for only the second time in history (Indianapolis, 1992). The last time the event took place in North America, was when Montreal played host in 1994.

United States Aquatic Sports (USAS) has been awarded the event by FINA. United States Masters Swimming (USMS), part of USAS, and its local Bay Area organizing committee, Pacific Masters Swimming, will help organize and host the event.

Members of the 2006 Local Organizing Committee include: Barry Fasbender, Pacific Masters; Anne Cribbs, BASOC, Nancy Ridout, Pacific Masters; Jody Smith, Stanford Avery Aquatic Complex; Michael Moore, Pacific Masters Swimming; Andy Burke, USA Water Polo; Don Kane, USA Synchronized Swimming; Carol MacPherson, Rinconada Masters, David Cotton, USA Diving; and Burnham Matthews, Chief of Police, City of Alameda -Security.

The committee is supported by Stanford University, Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce, BASOC, San Jose Sports Authority, San Jose Convention and Visitors Bureau and San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Pacific Masters Swimming is a regional arm of United States Masters Swimming, providing organized workouts, competitions, clinics and workshops for adults 18 and over. Programs are open to all adult swimmers (fitness, triathlete, competitive, noncompetitive) who are dedicated to improving their fitness through swimming. Pacific is organized with over 100 workout groups and teams in Northern California and Nevada. Membership numbers over 10,000, with individual members ranging in age from 18 to over 90.

For information, see www.2006finamasters.org.

XI FINA Masters World Championships – August 3 – August 16, 2006

Thursday, August 3	Opening Ceremonies
Friday, August 4	Swimming
Saturday, August 5	Swimming
Sunday, August 6	Swimming	Water Polo Preliminaries
Monday, August 7	Swimming	Water Polo Preliminaries
Tuesday, August 8	Swimming	Water Polo Preliminaries
Wednesday, August 9	Swimming	Water Polo
Thursday, August 10	Swimming	Closing Ceremonies, Water Polo
Friday, August 11	Water Polo Finals	Open Water Swim
Saturday, August 12	Water Polo Finals
Sunday, August 13	Synchronized Swimming	Diving 1 & 3 Springboard
Monday, August 14	Synchronized Swimming	Diving 1 & 3 Springboard
Tuesday, August 15	Synchronized Swimming	Diving 1 & 3 Springboard
Wednesday, August 16	Synchronized Swimming	Diving Platform
Thursday, August 17	Synchronized Swimming