The world of swimming begins on Friday and the workers employed at the Foro Italico in a hurry to leave the facility ready to jump into the water when stars like Michael Phelps and Chinese diver Guo Jingjing.You have to know the country you're getting into. This is Italy, said Cornel Marculescu, executive director of the International Swimming Federation (FINA). But in the end everything will be okay.
The first medals of the championship, which will be held from July 17 to August 2, will be shared on Friday in the men's one meter springboard. The inauguration ceremony will be held on Saturday, and the most traditional of the swimming start July 26.
The synchronized swimming and water polo also be held at the Foro Italico, a multi-complex built in the decade of the 1930s.
Swimming and diving will be conducted in permanent pools were also used for the 1960 Olympics and the World 1994. Two temporary pools were installed for the water polo and synchronized swimming, while the open water swimming to be held in the resort of Ostia.
It will be a fantastic tournament. We have the largest participation ever, with 2600 athletes from 184 countries, more than 2,000 coaches, officials and delegates, Marculescu said.
In the last world in Melbourne two years ago, United States topped the medals table with 21 gold and 40 overall.
It will be a challenging approach to total medals, 2007, said Mark Schubert, head coach of the U.S. team. This year is more than prepared.
The swimsuits Ultramodern undoubtedly be a topic of debate.
FINA has been criticized for failing to regulate the rapid advances in technology swimsuits that produced 108 world records last year and nearly 30 this year.
It is suspected that some suits increase the speed of the swimmers. Last month, 202 FINA approved suits and rejected 10 others.
We will have 11 manufacturers supplying costumes for free, Marculescu said the AP. Depends on the swimmers choose the dress they want. The important thing is that there are equal conditions and availability. All swimsuits are the mark of the FINA to prove that they were approved.
Another problem in Rome could be the heat, with temperatures reaching 35 degrees Celsius this week and the pool of unprotected sun.
The Italians have told us that next week will be the warmest year, but the temperature drop for the second week when you start swimming, Marculescu said. However, our sport is in the water, so no problem.
Still, extreme heat could scare off viewers, but organizers are betting that Phelps and Italian swimmer Federica Pellegrini attract large crowds.
Phelps won a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics, but probably only compete in six events in Rome: the 200 free, 100 butterfly, 200 butterfly and three relays.
I hope that Michael Phelps is, and if Michael Phelps is going to be breaking world records and winning gold medals, Marculescu anticipated. You just have to be himself and I think it will be.
