The Olympic and Paralympic Swimming Trials, scheduled for Montreal from May 13 to 19, will finally be held in Toronto on the same dates, it has been learned The Press. The change of location was confirmed Monday evening by Swimming Canada.
Natation Québec, which had obtained the mandate to organize this major competition for the first time since 2012, wanted to keep the event in the Montreal region, possibly at the Claude-Robillard sports complex, at the time of the announcement of its move to due to a fire at the Olympic Park last Wednesday.
The Olympic Park swimming pools, the sports center, the Institut national du sport du Québec and the rental floors of the tower will be closed for four to six months for cleaning and decontamination of the premises following the fire that occurred on the night of March 21st. Some 300 workers work there daily.
Thick smoke and soot entered the ventilation system after the windows of the INS Quebec gymnasium burst due to the heat of the fire, which broke out outside following a human action. The SPVM fire module is conducting an investigation. According to information from The Pressan itinerant would be at the origin.
Natation Québec, in collaboration with the City and Tourisme Montréal, considered using another training pool to hold the Trials at Claude-Robillard, which only has a 50-meter Olympic pool and 10 lanes. According to our sources, the erection of a temporary 50 meter pool was considered, as well as holding the competition at the PEPS at Laval University, in Quebec, which has two 50 meter pools.
Ultimately, the Swimming Canada board of directors decided in favor of the Toronto Pan American Sports Center (TPASC) to promote athlete performance. The last two Olympic Trials took place at this location which has two 50-meter pools and 10 lanes. In 2021, the competition took place without spectators due to restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It was not an easy decision and it will not be perfect, but we believe, taking everything into consideration, that it is the best decision with only five weeks to go before the competition,” said the interim general director of Swimming Canada, Suzanne Paulins, in a press release.
“The local organizing committee set up by the Quebec Swimming Federation did an incredible job helping us evaluate all possible eventualities. We also received support from the City of Montreal, Tourisme Montréal, the Olympic Park Sports Center and the Claude-Robillard Sports Complex. Their partnership, collaboration and willingness to help are greatly appreciated. No one expected it, but everyone did their best to find workable solutions. “
The Quebec Swimming Federation (FNQ) expressed its disappointment, while supporting the choice of its national counterpart. “Although we are disappointed that the Trials will not be held in Montreal or Quebec, we understand the need for an environment that promotes the preparation of athletes and their performances,” said CEO Francis Ménard, in the same press release. We support Swimming Canada in this choice. At the same time, this situation highlights the vulnerability of our sport for holding a world-class event in Quebec. “
Swimming Canada’s (SNC) High Performance Director, John Atkinson, for his part, underlined the importance of qualification standards: “We had to minimize the compromises for our athletes so that they could, with their coaches, maximize their performance. This played a vital role in the decision-making. Considering that a hundredth of a second is very important in our sport when striving to achieve standards, this decision is the right one to protect performance. »
According to SNC, the “athletes’ voice” weighed the most in the decision.
“TPASC is a great facility,” said swimmer Mary-Sophie Harvey of the CAMO club. “Summer McIntosh broke two world records at the Trials last year. This pool is the scene of many fast races and has a rich history, I’m sure we’ll see more of it. »
Air Canada, sponsor of the Trials, offered to waive “all fees” incurred by people who had already booked a flight to Montreal. SNC will also organize an assistance program for those seeking accommodation in the Toronto area. Refund or replacement terms for ticket holders in Montreal will be announced shortly.