Quake fears end elite swim meet
SWIMMING Australia will work with the International Paralympic Committee to find another opportunity for its elite para swimmers to compete before the Commonwealth Games after the world championships were postponed in the wake of the devastating Mexico earthquake.
The IPC made the decision yesterday to postpone the Para World Swimming Championships that were to be held in Mexico City from September 30.
Members of the 18-strong Australian team, including Gold Coaster Monique Murphy, were due to fly out of the country yesterday for a staging camp in Texas but those plans have been cancelled.
The IPC decision was taken following an assessment of the situation in Mexico after the devastating earthquake that killed more than 230 people this week.
While organisers originally planned for the competition to proceed, liaison with the local organising committee and the City of Mexico government determined the championships in swimming and powerlifting would be postponed.
Swimming Australia chief executive Mark Anderson praised the decision.
“This is a tragedy, it is an absolutely devastating situation for Mexico and our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the natural disaster,” Anderson said.
“We recognise that this is also an upsetting situation for many athletes who have worked incredibly hard for this event, but their safety is paramount and I commend this decision from the IPC.”
Swimming Australia will now work with the IPC to identify another opportunity for the team to compete.
The IPC said while the venues for the swimming and powerlifting had sustained no damage in the quake, a full structural assessment had to be conducted on the buildings.
Hotels set to house athletes and other infrastructure in the city had also been damaged.
Paralympic silver medallist Murphy said her first concern was for the people of Mexico.
“Yes, I’ve trained hard and want to be able to compete for my country and do my best but (when you hear about) something like an earthquake, swimming becomes not very important at all,” she said.