Record Entry for European Swimming Championships in Madrid

Madrid, 24 February 2004- After the preliminary entry deadline, 39 countries in all have confirmed their entry to the 27th LEN European Swimming Championships, being held at the M86 complex in Madrid, Spain.

This will be the third time that Spain has hosted this prestigious event. Barcelona staged the Championship in 1970, with Seville playing host in 1997.

It is very encouraging that the total number of pre-entered
competitors is 928. Final entries (by name) are expected ten days prior to start of each discipline, however it can be envisaged by now that the Spanish capital will host an outstanding LEN Event.

Madrid 2004 has consequently set a record on this front, given that in the previous Championships, held in Berlin in 2002, there were only 38 countries and 785 competitors.
The countries which are set to take part in Madrid 2004 are: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia Herzegovina, Byeloruss, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Netherlands,
Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, San Marino, Switzerland, Slovakia, Sweden, Turkey and Ukraine.

As an Olympic 2012 bidding city, Madrid, according to forecasts, from 5 to 16 May 2004, will host not only the 1404 competitors and national team staff expected to attend, but also the many supporters and visitors to the Championships.

For further information please contact:

www.madrid2004.org
Organizing Committee Press Office
Melanie Parejo Ana Calleja/ BegoñaMoreno/
Silvia Barraclough
Tel. +34 91 7203581 +34 91 7021010