Swimming news: Melbourne set to host 2022 World Short Course Titles

Australia has snared the hosting rights to one of the biggest events on the swimming calendar — and it is sure to infuriate Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin.

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Melbourne has pulled off a stunning coup to be awarded the hosting rights to this year’s short-course world swimming championships, snatching one of Vladimir Putin’s prized international sporting events off the Russian dictator.

The sport’s world governing FINA will make a formal announcement within days after striking a deal with the Victorian state government and Australian swimming officials.

Although the details remain under wraps, News Corp understands the championships – one of the biggest events on the global swimming calendar – will be held in mid December at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre in Albert Park.

It will be the first time the short course world titles, held in a 25 metre pool instead of the usual 50m, have been awarded to Australia which is a major windfall for the sport but will infuriate the Kremlin.

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Melbourne will host the short-course world swimming championships. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

This year’s edition was originally due to take place in Kazan, Russia’s fifth largest city, but FINA stripped Russia as the host nation after dozens of national swimming federations — including Australia — declared they would boycott the event as a show of solidarity to Ukraine.

News Corp understands international officials are expected to offer unprecedented prizemoney as well as world record bonuses to attract the best swimmers on the planet to Australia after the late switch in venues.

Neither FINA or Swimming Australia has made any formal announcement about the event but FINA has previously told News Corp talks with Australia were “advanced.”

Regarded as one of swimming’s crown jewels, securing the championships is another feather in the cap for Australia in the long build-up to the 2032 Brisbane Olympics and Paralympics, even though Putin will be fuming.

It is also understood that Russia and Belarus will both be banned from sending teams to Australia although individual athletes may be able to apply on a case-by-case basis.

Originally published as Swimming news: Melbourne set to host 2022 World Short Course Titles