Madeira will once again be the stage for the European Paralympic Swimming Championships, scheduled for April next year and which precedes the Paralympic Games in Paris in 2024, the International Federation of the sport announced this Monday.
In a statement, World Para Athletics said the competition, which will have an open format, will take place from April 21 to 27 at the Penteada Olympic swimming pool complex in Funchal, which has already hosted the 2016 and 2021 competitions. which preceded the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo.
Given the open format, the competition will be open to swimmers from outside Europe, with qualifying criteria expected to be announced by the end of the week.
“Madeira has become a regular stop on the Paralympic swimming calendar. We are delighted to be back there to host an event that will allow athletes to test their strengths ahead of the 2024 Games in Paris,” said Craig Nicholson, World Para Swimming Leader, thanking the support of the Portuguese Swimming Federation (FPN) and local organisers.
António Silva, president of the FPN, expressed “satisfaction and pride” that Portugal is hosting one of the largest Paralympic swimming competitions.
“In the year of the Paralympic Games, we are delighted to welcome the world’s best Paralympic swimmers to Madeira. It’s incredible to see Portugal being part of the sport’s big stages, we hope everyone will come and share in the joy of this high level competitive event,” he said.
Opened in 2004, Funchal’s swimming pool complex will host the Paralympic World Swimming Championships in 2022.