The Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) has reduced the number of host cities in consideration for the 2016 or 2018 swimming championships from seven down to three and Windsor, Ont., is still in the running.
The city, which voted in September to spend $200,000 on its bid to host FINA’s 25-m World Swimming Championships, is competing against Hong Kong, China, and a city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that is yet to be determined.
According to a report in The Windsor Star, depending on government and corporate sponsorship, costs to host the event can be anywhere from $2 to $10 million. The city will also need to build a temporary 25-m swimming pool at the Windsor Family Credit Union (WFCU) centre to remain a candidate.
To help solidify the bid, Windsor has also partnered with the City of Detroit, Mich., which has committed $25,000 via its Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau (DMCVB).
Should Windsor be selected, the event is expected to inject $16.7 million into the city as it will attract approximately 2,500 visitors, more than 700 athletes and 250 journalists from 140 countries, Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis said in the report.
The city will make its final presentation in Istanbul, Turkey, on Dec. 11, where FINA will select the host city.
